Our Partners
The Brain Injury Safety Net Task Force
Brain Injury Association of South Carolina
Backbone Organization
BIASC’s mission is to create a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education and advocacy. The South Carolina Brain Injury Safety Net (BISN) is funded through Developmental Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN), Dabos All In Foundation Grant and money from the state legislature. Previous funding was provided through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of South Carolina (2019-2021). Through BISN, we provide educational resources and develop an infrastructure to support children with brain injuries and their families.
South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council
The SC Brain Injury Leadership Council’s (BILC) mission is to provide leadership and promote services and resources across the state that empower persons with traumatic brain injury, and that those services and resources are accessible and appropriate to their needs and preferences. The BILC coordinates and promotes brain injury services statewide, advances education and advocacy, and builds consensus to support needed programs and policies.
Divisions of Children’s Health & Division of Injury and Violence Prevention, South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control
Emma Kennedy & Karilyn Tremblay (I&VP), Vicky Ladd (CH) & Karen Moore (EMS for Children)
The Department of Health and Environmental Control aims to promote and protect the health of the public in South Carolina. The Division of Injury and Violence Prevention assists communities, health practitioners, and state and local policymakers to develop strategies to improve injury care and stimulate and strengthen injury prevention efforts. The Division of Children’s Health aims to better the lives of South Carolina children who have special health care needs.
Office of Special Education Services, South Carolina Department of Education
Lisa McCliment & Dianne Bennett
The mission of the South Carolina Department of Education is to provide leadership and support so that all public education students graduate prepared for success. The Department of Special Education Services provides South Carolina school children with disabilities with a 504 Plan or IEP. The Office of Special Education will aid BIASC in identifying opportunities to provide trainings to professionals who work in schools.
South Carolina Association of School Nurses
Dawn McAdams & Vicky Ladd
The mission of the South Carolina Association of School Nurses is to promote the delivery of quality health programs to the school population and school community by strengthening the growth of professional school health nurses and advancing the practice of school nursing.
South Carolina Athletic Trainers Association
George Wham
The South Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association is proudly committed to the growth and advancement of the athletic training profession in the state of South Carolina. SCATA is a professional organization representing the 750+ athletic trainers certified to practice athletic training in the state of South Carolina.
South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Dr. Emilie Bartlett, Advisory Member & Dr. Jeff Holloway
The South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization that works toward establishing a safe environment for children, promotes the availability of universal vaccines, promotes health care access and financial reform of the health care system, promotes family support and a nurturing environment, and is an advocate for children’s needs. They work closely with parents and professionals who are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of children in South Carolina.
South Carolina Independent Schools’ Association
Mike Fanning
The mission of the South Carolina Independent Schools Association is to provide outstanding service to their member schools through academic, athletic, and student-centered programs.
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Lisa Norman
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School is a private school in Columbia that cultivates creative thinking, develops leadership and social skills, and promotes service to others over the pursuit of self-interest through a rich academic and extracurricular program in a supportive community of talented educators and engaged students.
Newberry College
Aslynn Halvorson, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Human Performance
Newberry College is a private liberal arts institution that was founded in 1856. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,256 (fall 2020), its setting is city, and the campus size is 94 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Newberry College's ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Colleges South, #11.
Health Psychology Solutions of the Carolinas, LLC
Dr. Ashley Harbin
Health Psychology Solutions of the Carolinas, LLC, in Columbia, South Carolina, provides comprehensive behavioral health evaluation, treatment, and consultation for individuals of all ages. Dr. Ashley Harbin is a medical clinical psychologist and certified brain injury specialist whose practice is dedicated to patients with complex concussions (mild traumatic brain injuries). She works closely with medical providers and schools from across the state to advocate for better services and understanding of mild TBI, and was a key advocate for developing the SC Brain Injury Safety Net program.
Palmetto Pediatrics and Adolescent Clinic
Dr. Emilie Bartlett, Advisory Member of Safety Net Task Force
Palmetto Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic emphasizes care of children and adolescents. They believe that an educated family makes the best decisions for their children.
Prisma Health
Dr. Jeff Holloway
Prisma Health’s mission is to: Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference. Prisma Health Midlands Children’s Hospital is South Carolina’s first children’s hospital, with South Carolina’s only Children’s Emergency Center.
The Vision Therapy Institute
Dr. Katie Davis
The Vision Therapy Institute is the only clinic in the Midlands area offering comprehensive vision therapy services. Recent research suggests that over 50% of patients with concussion or post-concussion syndrome have visual problems that may cause headaches, eye headaches, double vision, eye strain or blurred vision (VisionHelp Initiative, 2019). Optometrists have a unique and incredibly important opportunity to help young people by identifying untreated concussion symptoms early and co-manage them with neuro-optometic rehabilitation and vision therapy services.
Grand Strand Medical Center is an official Safety Net Chapter. As of November 2021, Grand Strand, specifically the Pediatric TBI Workgroup, has made a commitment to participating in Safety Net activities and promoting educational resources and awareness. Staff members are equipped to provide trainings on the SC REAP Manual and the educational and outreach efforts that Grand Strand is already doing is being amplified through this partnership. We look forward to working with them in this collaborative partnership moving forward!
Grand Strand Medical Center
Sim Hood, Aaron Worthley, Dr. Anthony Shadiack & Christina Catlla
Grand Strand Medical Center is a 403-bed acute care hospital serving residents of Horry and surrounding counties. Their hospital offers the only cardiac surgery program, neurosurgery program and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Horry and Georgetown counties and is a designated Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center by South Carolina DHEC. Their hospital is also the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in the service area, certified by DNV-GL.
Grand Strand Medical Center is recognized by the Joint Commission, a leading accreditor of healthcare organizations in the United States, for the following programs: chest pain, knee and hip replacement, sepsis and stroke rehabilitation. In addition, they have received awards from the American Heart Association for treatment of heart attacks and stroke.
McLeod Orthopedics & Spine Specialist is an official Safety Net Chapter. As of November 2021, McLeod has made a commitment to participating in Safety Net activities and promoting educational resources and awareness. Staff members are equipped to provide trainings on the SC REAP Manual. We look forward to this continued collaborative partnership moving forward!
McLeod Health: McLeod Orthopedics
Andrea Kolodziej
McLeod Health is the region's destination for medical excellence. Their excellence extends from the Midlands to the Coast along the border of North and South Carolina - serving more than one million people. As medical needs grow – they grow, expand, and improve their facilities and services. The McLeod Health network is comprised of 7 hospitals with locations in Florence, Darlington, Dillon, Manning, Cheraw, Loris, and Little River. They have also expanded into the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach for patients looking for primary care and family physicians.
Founded over a century ago, McLeod is a locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system which features the strength of more than 800 physicians and 2,000 registered nurses, and more than 9,000 employees. McLeod constantly seeks to improve patient care with efforts that are physician led, data-driven and evidence-based.
McLeod Orthopedic & Spine Specialists play an important role in the Emergency Department, handling traumatic injuries from auto accidents, falls, fractures and more. The advanced training and expertise of our staff enables us to provide care for acute injuries and fractures 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Their carefully coordinated evaluation and treatment protocols are designed to provide leading edge care as promptly as possible.
Richland School District 2
Shirley Vickery
Richland County School District Two is a nationally recognized school district located in suburban Columbia, South Carolina, United States, in the northeast section of Richland County. It is one of the fastest growing districts in South Carolina, with a current student population above 27,000.
Mission Statement
In partnership with their community, they develop global citizens of tomorrow — citizens who are prepared to lead and excel in their chosen pathways.
Vision
Richland Two strives to be the premier school district — a learning and working environment where all partners are committed to creating, sustaining, and investing in a culture and environment of excellence and where all are afforded the opportunity to maximize their gifts and talents as they pursue their pathways to purpose.
South Carolina Association of School Psychologists
Lynn Collins, Executive Director
The South Carolina Association of School Psychologists is a membership organization that empowers school psychologists to advance the learning and mental health of students in South Carolina.
Charleston Upper Cervical Chiropractic
Dr. Natalie Khaskar, Exercise Physiologist & Doctor of Chiropractic
Charleston Upper Cervical helps patients suffering from a variety of conditions. Dr. Will Youngblood is Owner and Head Doctor at Charleston Upper Cervical Chiropractic. He graduated from Life Chiropractic College in 1996. In 2011, he obtained a postgraduate degree specializing in Upper Cervical Care as a graduate of the inaugural class of the Upper Cervical Academy through Sherman College of Chiropractic.
Myrtle Beach High School
Andrea Owens, MS, ATC, SCAT, Head Athletic Trainer and Medical Sciences Teacher
Myrtle Beach High School, where excellence is never compromised, is a grades 9 through 12 program that empowers students to learn, lead, and succeed. They are a diverse and dynamic school, with around 1,400 students, that offers a variety of programs designed to meet the demands of the 21st century. Over 75% of their graduating seniors attend either a two or four year college and over 60% are offered scholarships. They incorporate technology in their teaching strategies, as well as in their student responses, and rely on school and student data to drive instruction.
Survivors, Advocates, and Caregivers
Barbara Barber, brain injury advocate and parent of TBI survivor, Brennen Barber
Toschia Young, advocate and parent of TBI survivor, India Young
Jaimie Sweem, brain injury advocate and nursing student