BrainSTEPS

What is BrainSTEPS?

Jeffco’s BrainSTEPS team is a consulting program assisting Jeffco schools in supporting students who have sustained a brain injury. The BrainSTEPS consulting program strategizes with educators, parents and students to support brain injury survivors in the school setting and was created to build a bridge connecting the medical, rehabilitation, education sectors and families following students with brain injury. The Jeffco BrainSTEPS Team is a multidisciplinary team of professionals trained in identification and intervention for students with suspected TBI; consultants to the school-based teams, families, and students we serve in our district.

As a result of acquired brain injury, many students return to school with lingering effects that impact classroom performance. BrainSTEPS CO has been designed to consult with school teams and families in the development and delivery of educational services for students who have experienced acquired brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries: brain injuries including concussion (mTBI), moderate and severe caused by an external physical force (e.g. sports/recreational activities, falls, assault, motor vehicle accidents, penetrating object, non-accidental abusive head trauma (previously known as shaken baby syndrome)
Non-traumatic brain injuries: brain injuries caused by an internal event (e.g. strokes, brain tumors, brain infections, tumors, aneurysms, and anoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain), brain infections such as encephalitis, meningitis, toxic or metabolic injury, viruses).
Congenital brain injuries (in-utero strokes, substance exposure, FASD)

BrainSTEPS CO works not only on re-entry for students following brain injury but also with students previously identified as having a brain injury who may begin to demonstrate educational challenges over the years as the brain develops and matures.

BrainSTEPS CO was created in 2016 and is implemented by the Department of Education with funding from MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network within the Colorado Department of Human Services.

Brain Injury Graphic — *Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)*

*External Forces–TBIs are categorized by the severity of the initial blow: mild TBI, moderate TBI, or severe TBI*

*Internal Forces–Includes things like stroke, anoxia, tumor, infection, aneurysm, metabolic disorders, or toxic exposure*

*#MINDYOURBRAIN*

*mindyourbrainCO.org*

Jeffco Public Schools BrainSTEPS Team

The BrainSTEPS team is a multidisciplinary team within Jeffco Public Schools that has specialized training to help support students with brain injuries. The team may be composed of learning specialists, mental health professionals, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and nurses.

Building Blocks of Brain Development

BrainSTEPS team members consult with schools regarding IDEA identification, IEP/504 Plan development, possible interventions, and implementation based on the Building Blocks of Brain Development© framework. Teams also consult on school re-entry planning and other issues school professionals face in supporting students with brain injuries.

Referrals

Scenarios for why a referral would be made

Refer students to the BrainSTEPS team if they have sustained any of the injuries listed below and are in need of additional support:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - an external force to the head
- Mild (concussion) to severe brain injuries
- Mild TBI - student has had multiple injuries to the brain and has significant deficits-physical or cognitive
  - Prolonged recovery with significant deficits
  - From the onset of mild TBI, Jeffco concussion protocol is followed:
    - At approximately four weeks from injury and the student continues to have symptoms, the concussion resource nurse is notified.
    - At approximately 10-12 weeks if the student continues to have symptoms a referral to BrainSTEPS should be initiated.
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) - stroke, brain tumor, prolonged decreased blood and oxygen to the brain

The BrainSTEPS coordinator will reach out to the family to gather further information about the injury, deficits and previous concerns.
The BrainSTEPS coordinator will reach out to the school team and see what concerns they have about the student, accommodations or support currently in place and what is and isn't working.
The BrainSTEPS team will coordinate with the school about scheduling an observation as needed:
- The team would like to spend a few minutes prior to the observation meeting with the nurse, team leader or teacher directly involved with the student.
- The teacher in the class where the observation will be taking place should know that the student will be observed.
- Someone should point the student out to the team.
After the observation has been completed, the team would like to meet with the nurse, team leader and teacher to discuss the findings.
After the observation is completed, the BrainSTEPS team will write up recommendations for additional support and email them to the family and the school team.
BrainSTEPS coordinator will check in with the family about recommendations and see if there are any questions or concerns. A BrainSTEPS flag will be added to the student's Infinite Campus profile.
BrainSTEPS coordinator will follow up with the family and school team annually to see if any additional support is needed.

Resources

Brain Injury Resources

Colorado Kids with Brain Injury
Brain Injury in Children and Youth A Manual for Educators
Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado - Resource Navigation and Services
- Do you know someone with a brain injury who needs support? Refer them to the Brain Injury Alliance of CO for community services
Online Learning for Students with Brain Injury & FASD from Colorado Department of Education
CDE Concussion Management Guidelines
MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network
Brain Injury Waivers

Contact Us

Special Education

Phone: 303-982-6682