Traumatic brain injury education at risk if federal funding cuts approved

SALT LAKE CITY — Federal funding for traumatic brain injury research could be cut if Congress follows through with the Trump administration’s budget request.

Certified brain injury specialist Catherine Little said these proposed changes could have big impacts for Utah.

“If the federal funding disappears, I’m not sure how the state of Utah will be able to absorb all of those costs,” she said.

And there is a long waitlist of people who need brain injury resources, Little said.

Traumatic brain injury prevention and education

Federal funding provides resources for people who have traumatic brain injuries, but it also helps prevention efforts like the Heads Up program. 

In Utah, most athletic coaches are required to participate in that program to better educate themselves on how to deal with their players’ head injuries and, hopefully, prevent them.

Little said cutting this funding would be troubling and extremely short-sighted.

Lisa Walker, a licensed athletic trainer at Springville High School, told Midday with Maria that the Utah High School Activities Association’s links to the Heads Up program would disappear with the cuts.

“We’ll need to come up with something to fill the spot, to fill that void,” she said.

Walker said the National Athletic Trainers Association could help fill in. But she said she’s concerned for places that don’t have athletic trainers.

“The educational piece going away can be detrimental,” Walker said.

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