May 9, 2006
Conference to Focus on Brain Injuries among Indians
A national conference on brain injuries among the American Indian population will be held June 6-7 in Billings. The deadline for early registration is May 19.
The conference is co-sponsored by the Senior and Long Term Care Division of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and the Montana Center on Disabilities at Montana State University-Billings. It is funded in part by a grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. The theme of the event is "Honoring the Sacred Circle and Exploring the Impact of Domestic Violence and Brain Injury on the American Indian Population."
"We chose to focus on American Indians because the rates of death and hospitalization due to brain injury are significantly higher among this group than among other races," according to Nell Eby, program specialist with DPHHS. "The leading causes of these brain injuries are assaults and motor vehicle accidents."
The conference is aimed at American Indians who have brain injuries or domestic-abuse issues, their family members, associates, tribal leaders, law enforcement personnel, crisis center personnel, educators, and other professional care providers. However, all interested people are welcome to attend.
"Participants will be given the opportunity to experience a wide range of remarkable workshop presentations by some of the country's leading speakers in areas of empowerment, domestic violence and brain injury," according to Ian Elliot, program coordinator with the Montana Center on Disabilities. "Most people still do not realize that Montana is second in the nation in per capita incidence of brain injury after Wyoming."
The conference will begin at 1 p.m. June 6 in the Student Union Building on the MSU-Billings campus, 1500 University Drive. The opening ceremony will feature Night Hawk Jrz. Drum Group from Crow Agency. Registration also includes three meals and admission to a family-oriented Native flute concert benefit featuring Grammy-nominated artist Joseph FireCrow.
The public can choose to attend only the concert, which will be at 7:30 p.m. June 6 at the Petro Theatre. The cost for non-conference participants is $10 for adults and $7 for students, senior citizens, and MSU-Billings faculty and staff. Tickets will be sold at the door and in advance at Barjons Books, Borders Books, and Hansen Music. Net proceeds from the concert will benefit the Billings chapter of the Brain Injury Association of Montana.
To register for the conference or for more information, call Cindy Flom at the Montana Center on Disabilities at 657-2073 or 1-888-866-3822. A detailed conference brochure and online registration are available at www.msubillings.edu/mtcd/events.htm .
Before May 19, the cost to register for the conference is $65 for individuals, $110 for professionals, and $110 for a family of three. After May 19, registration costs will increase by $10. A limited number of scholarships are available for people with brain injuries and their families. The deadline to apply for scholarships is May 19.
Conference booth space is available for $150, which includes one complimentary conference registration.Page last updated: 06/13/2006
