Comprehensive needs assessment and long-term community integration program for adults living with a traumatic brain injury

Importance: To identify and address specific needs related to long-term community based participation for adults living with a TBI participating at Camp BIAG. Objective: To conduct a preliminary and extensive needs assessment to then develop context-specific interventions that support Camp BIAG participant’s long-term community integration. Design: A program development project including findings from literature review, comprehensive needs assessment, and other educational podcasts, programs, and interventions found with specific site mentor and capstone advisor feedback included. Setting: Camp BIAG is a weekend program (3 days) where individuals with either a TBI or acquired brain injury can go for adaptive recreational activities and socialization while their loved ones can receive needed respite care (BIAG, 2023). The camp itself is put on by The Brain Injury Association of Georgia & Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA. Participants: Twenty-four total participants: 17 volunteers/staff, 1 key informant, 2 former Camp BIAG campers, and 4 caregivers. Intervention: Development of yearly peer mentorship program, two mindfulness-based activities, and a camper satisfaction survey. Outcomes & Measurements: A qualitative thematic analysis was used for the preliminary needs assessment. Outcomes included identified needs, completed peer mentorship program and two mindfulness-based activities with all needed material and implementation steps, and a completed camper satisfaction survey. Results: The preliminary needs assessment yielded the following five themes: (1) Peer support as a facilitator of community integration, (2) Lack of mental health and emotional regulation support post-camp, (3) Limited caregiver support and education, (4) Access and environmental challenges, and (5) The need for sustainable, year-round support. The focus group, caregiver survey, and SWOT analysis from the extensive needs assessment informed peer mentorship program session topics, mindfulness-based activities, and survey development. Conclusions & Relevance: The capstone met all project objectives by developing needs based interventions for Camp BIAG participants. Said interventions created are relevant and tailored to the specific population and include all needed material for implementation. Plain-Language Summary: This project talked to adults with a TBI, their caregivers, volunteers, and stakeholders to discover what Camp BIAG participants need the most to support participation in community activities. Based on the discussions, a peer mentorship program, two mindfulness based activities, and a camper satisfaction survey were found to be needed and therefore, created.