Bastrop ISD to begin education, awareness campaign for traumatic brain injuries

Editor's note: This article was updated to reflect that the $170,000 Toyota Way Forward Pediatric Trauma-Related Brain Injury Grant Initiative was awarded to Ascension Catholic Church, which then allocated funding to Bastrop ISD.

Bastrop ISD representatives announced in April how they will utilize an $80,000 grant from Ascension Catholic Church. The funding will go towards an education and awareness campaign for traumatic brain injuries.

What you need to know

During BISD's April 15 board meeting, Mina Elementary School counselor Jennifer Blum addressed the board, stating that the district had determined how it would utilize the Toyota Way Forward Pediatric Trauma-Related Brain Injury Grant Initiative. A total of $170,000 was awarded to Ascension Catholic Church. The church allocated $80,000 of the grant to the district.

The details

Place 4 Trustee Priscilla Ruiz and Ascension Catholic Church wrote the grant proposal, Blum said.

Grant funds will be used for:

• Curriculum development: Age-appropriate lessons for kindergarten through 12th grade about recognizing and preventing pediatric traumatic brain injuries have been written and adopted.
• Parent education: BISD will provide educational opportunities at community events and schools for parents and health professionals.
• Community awareness: The district's communications department will create public service announcements about traumatic brain injuries.

About the program

The Toyota Way Forward program is an initiative aimed at making access to care and injury recovery support for individuals and their families stronger, with a focus on children with traumatic brain injuries in its early phases.