Training & Education
The Research, Training & Outcome Center for Brain Injury provides a variety of training, education, and certification opportunities for brain injury professionals.
Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS)
Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) is a credential for individuals who assist persons with brain injury to restore, maintain, and promote optimal health. CBIS is the next step in professional development and has been widely recognized and respected for many years in the field of brain injury. CBIS provides recognition of an individual's advanced training and work experience in brain injury services. The completion of the certification process demonstrates the certificant's commitment to learn about brain injury rehabilitation and to maintain that knowledge through continuing education. The certification also shows that the certificant is dedicated to providing improved quality of care for persons with brain injuries.
Learn how you can be a Certified Brain Injury Specialist by contacting Wendy Waldman, BSW, CBIST at 1 (317) 329-2235 or wendy.waldman@rhin.com.
ACBIS Training for Professionals
The Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS) offers a voluntary national certification program for both direct care staff and professionals working in brain injury services. ACBIS provides the opportunity to learn important information about brain injury, to demonstrate learning in a written examination, and to earn a nationally recognized credential. Certification is not restricted to any one profession or discipline. Rather, it is intended for anyone who delivers services specific to brain injury.
For more information, contact Wendy Waldman, BSW, CBIST at 1 (317) 329-2235 or wendy.waldman@rhin.com.
Brain Injury Fundamentals
Brain Injury Fundamentals addresses the unique needs and challenges of those who care for or encounter individuals with brain injury. This program is designed for non-licensed direct care staff, facility staff, family members and friends, first responders, and others in the brain injury community. It covers topics such as guidelines for interaction, brain injury and behavior, and families coping with brain injury.
Provisional Certified Brain Injury Specialist (PCBIS)
As a PCBIS, pre-professionals have the opportunity to develop a strong foundation in the field of brain injury rehabilitation and services. ACBIS hopes the provisional certification will provide opportunities for in-depth training for the many pre-professionals who intend to develop a career working with individuals who have an acquired or traumatic brain injury. Candidates who go on to complete 500-hours of verified clinical employment and/or supervised academic internship experience* working with individuals who have a brain injury within a 3-year period from the date of original PCBIS certification will receive their full certification. The Provisional Certified Brain Injury Specialist (PCBIS) certification is an opportunity for students enrolled in an accredited University program to join the expanding group of professionals seeking to offer optimal care for individuals with a brain injury.
For more information, contact Wendy Waldman, BSW, CBIST at 1 (317) 329-2235 or wendy.waldman@rhin.com.
Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIST)
Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainers (CBISTs) are approved to provide official ACBIS training to CBIS candidates. CBISTs demonstrate advanced skills in the field of brain injury and maintain their skills through continuing education. For more information, contact Wendy Waldman, BSW, CBIST at 1 (317) 329-2235 or wendy.waldman@rhin.com.
Annual Brain Injury & Resource Facilitation Conference
This conference is held annually. Learn from leading experts in the field of brain injury and experience a community of like-minded individuals who are working to improve and promote the collaboration of community resource providers. Also, you can earn continuing education credits at no additional cost.
On-Demand Webinar
Opioids and TBI: An Unrecognized Relationship
This free, on-demand, continuing education webinar provides an introduction to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)-specific issues related to prescribing opioids and opioid misuse. In this 2-hour webinar, TBI researchers and expert practitioners provide practical recommendations intended to reduce the rate of opioid misuse and overdose for a particularly high-risk group of people with TBI.
The webinar covers:
- Part I
- What is a TBI?
- How to Screen for TBI
- Part II
- Increased Risk for Opioid Misuse following TBI
- Review of Recommendations
- Where to Find Brain Injury Resources and Support
View printable fact sheet about the webinar >
Why This Webinar is Important
People with TBI are at a significantly greater risk for opioid addiction and overdose as compared to those without TBI. More than 60% of patients with TBI are discharged on an opioid. Based on analyses of 14,398 subjects in the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, it was found that people with TBI were 11 times more likely to die of an overdose than the non-brain injured population. Last, most prescribers are not aware that they are prescribing opioids for an individual with TBI. In Indiana, we have approximately 122,000 citizens living with chronic disability from TBI who are at high risk for opioid misuse/overdose.
Read the press release about the grant that made this webinar possible >
Intended Audience
Physicians, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Techs, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Social Workers, Behavioral health treatment providers, Therapists, Counselors, Medical Professionals, Psychologists, Addiction Specialists, Case Managers, Peer Specialists and others in the field of brain injury.
How to Access the Webinar
This on-demand webinar can be accessed online through INTrain. Pick a time that best fits your time schedule to watch.
- Create an Account at www.train.org/indiana
- Register for the course by selecting Training
- Plan ID: 4122 or by searching for the title of the webinar: “Opioids and TBI: An Unrecognized Relationship”