WHEREAS, brain injury includes any injury to the brain after birth, including traumatic injuries, stroke, anoxia, and tumors; and

WHEREAS, brain injury is a life changing experience which can bring a lifetime of physical, cognitive, and behavior challenges affecting the whole family as well as the injured person; and

WHEREAS, there are more than 5 million children and adults in the United States or one in every sixty people who are living with permanent brain injury-related disabilities, and approximately 300,000 Virginians are living with a brain injury; and

WHEREAS, the primary causes of traumatic brain injury in Virginia are falls, motor vehicle crashes, assaults, sporting-related injuries, or occupational injuries; and

WHEREAS, sports and recreational activities contribute to approximately 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children, and may impact later development; and

WHEREAS, traumatic brain injury has been a leading injury in combat and is complicated by high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, presenting challenges for Virginia’s more than 125,000 active-duty military members, more than 700,000 veterans, and their families; and

WHEREAS, in the previous year, state funded brain injury service providers saw an unprecedented 68% increase in the number of people with brain injury seeking services; and

WHEREAS, early, equal, and adequate access to care greatly increases the overall productivity and quality of life of Virginians with traumatic brain injury, enabling a more successful return to home, school, work, and community; and

WHEREAS, the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services works in partnership with the Virginia Brain Injury Council, the Department of Veterans Services/Virginia Veteran and Family Support Program, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, as well as a network of state-funded brain injury services programs;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize March 2024, as BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.