Past NCAPPS Webinars


Improving Brain Injury Systems: Stories from a NCAPPS Learning Collaborative

Thursday, October 21, 2021


The NCAPPS Brain Injury Learning Collaborative was formed in January 2020 to support a collective of state teams to develop a plan for change, test improvements, and expand person-centered brain injury supports. In this webinar, state teams from Alaska, Utah, and West Virginia will share stories of their participation in the NCAPPS Brain Injury Learning Collaborative, which ended in August 2021. The teams will reflect on how they overcame challenges, offer tips for success, and outline strategies for sustaining progress towards person-centered Brain Injury supports at the state level.

Meet the presenters


Barb Recknagel

Barb Recknagel is the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver (TBIW) Manager employed by Kepro in 2012. Her responsibilities included initial and ongoing development and implementation of the TBIW program to assist the West Virginian Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, she worked in the Child Welfare field for over twenty-five years. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS).

Gina Desmond

Gina Desmond is a Senior Advocate with Disability Rights of WV. She has been with DRWV since July 2011. Gina currently works in the following advocacy systems: accessibility; housing rights; access to home and community-based services; access to assistive technology; etc. She also monitors state psychiatric hospital; jails/prisons; and juvenile facilities.

Rodney Smith

Rodney Smith is a U.S. Army veteran, father, grandfather, and TBI survivor and advocate. He sustained brain injury when a pickup truck failed to see him and crossed the road in front of his motorcycle. Rodney got involved with the Brain Injury program in West Virginia with the hope that he could help people with TBI, and their families have better lives and avoid the frustrations he went through trying to find right help after his accident.

Rolf M. Habfell

Rolf M. Habfell manages the Acquired Brain Injury and Physical Disabilities 1915 c Medicaid Home and Community Based Service Waivers. He is currently employed as a Program Administrator with the State of Utah, Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD). Mr. Halbfell develops strategies to help waiver participants with brain injury develop a greater potential in gaining back their independence and increase their confidence.

Carie Bambrough

Carrie Bambrough is the Quality Management Administrator at the Utah Department of Human Services, Office of Quality and Design supporting contracted providers to ensure quality delivery of services. Prior to this position, Carrie spent 20 years as a direct support professional and Executive Director of an organization that supports people with brain injuries to live independently in their communities. She is an active member of the Utah Brain Injury Council and is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and Trainer (CBIST).

Danielle Reed

Danielle Reed is Director of Community Services at the UAA Center for Human Development. She serves as the lead on the Alaska TBI State Partnership grant and also oversees the Disability Abuse Response Team and Friendships and Dating programs at CHD. She has a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering and a Master’s in business administration. She lives in Palmer, Alaska with her family and two huskies and loves to hike and ski at Hatcher Pass.

Michele Coston

Michele Coston is a TABI Resource Navigator at Access Alaska INC. She currently serves on the board of the Housing and Homeless Coalition, and with the Suicide Postvention Team as well as collaborates with the HUD/VASH homeless veterans’ workers. As a daughter of a stroke survivor, she is passionate about her work in peer support. As a result of her own experience, she provides support to those that experience TABI with a person-centered approach.

Krystal Blair

Krystal Blair is the South Central Independent Living Manager with Access Alaska, Inc. Krystal leads a team of advocates providing all aspects of independent living, including information and referral services, Peer Support, Independent living skills training, individual and Systems advocacy as well as transition services with individuals who experience a disability. A big believer in self-advocacy and independent living, Krystal supports Access Alaska’s mission of encouraging and promoting the total integration of people who experience a disability and senior Alaskans to live independently in the community of their choice.

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NCAPPS is an initiative from the Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help States, Tribes, and Territories to implement person-centered practices. NCAPPS webinars are open to the public, and are geared toward human services administrators, providers, and people who use long-term services and supports. All NCAPPS webinars will be recorded and archived at https://ncapps.acl.gov.