The St. Jude Brain Injury Network (SJBIN) is a nonprofit program serving adult survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families in Orange County, California. These answers address the most common questions from TBI survivors, family members, caregivers, and referring healthcare providers.

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About St. Jude Brain Injury Network

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What is St. Jude Brain Injury Network (SJBIN)?

The St. Jude Brain Injury Network (SJBIN) is a nonprofit program affiliated with Providence St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, California. SJBIN provides free long-term planning, case management, education, and advocacy services to adult survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families. It is one of the designated California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) TBI service sites — state-funded centers providing information, referral, and support to brain injury survivors statewide. SJBIN is also known by its earlier name, TBIOC (Traumatic Brain Injury of Orange County), and can be found at tbioc.org as well as sjbin.org.

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What is SJBIN's mission?

SJBIN's mission is to coordinate services and help improve the quality of life for adult survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to promote awareness of TBI issues throughout the Orange County community. The program's purpose is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a coordinated service approach — helping TBI survivors gain access to gainful employment, appropriate community reintegration programs, accessible housing, and research-related education.

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Where is SJBIN located and how do I contact them?

Address: 130 W. Bastanchury Rd., Fullerton, CA 92835

Phone: 714.446.5626

Toll-Free: 866.785.8332

Email: SJBINcontact@providence.org

Website: sjbin.org

Instagram: @stjudebraininjurynetwork

Facebook: facebook.com/TBIOC

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How is SJBIN funded?

SJBIN is funded in part by the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) as one of the state's designated TBI service sites. It operates under the nonprofit umbrella of Providence Health & Services. SJBIN also accepts charitable donations — gifts designated to "St. Jude Brain Injury Network" through the Providence giving portal directly support TBI survivors and their families with support, service coordination, and resources that enhance independent living and community reintegration.

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Eligibility & Getting Started

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Who is eligible for SJBIN services?

SJBIN serves adult survivors of external force traumatic brain injury — meaning the brain injury was caused by a force applied from outside the body (such as a fall, car accident, or blow to the head). Services are primarily available to residents of Orange County, California. There is no income requirement — services are provided free of charge regardless of financial situation. Family members and caregivers of TBI survivors are also supported through SJBIN's partner organization, the Caregiver Resource Center of Orange County (caregiveroc.org).

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How do I get started with SJBIN services?

The intake process is simple and can be completed independently or with assistance:

Step 1: Complete the intake form — available online at sjbin.org/services. It can be filled out independently or with help from a family member.

Step 2: SJBIN contacts you — a team member will reach out to complete registration and learn more about your situation.

Step 3: Receive personalized resources — you will receive information and referrals matched to your specific needs and goals.

Step 4: Ongoing support — SJBIN can follow up as regularly as you request, from weekly check-ins to annual touch-points.

You can also call directly: 714.446.5626 or toll-free 866.785.8332.

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Are SJBIN services really free?

Yes. All core SJBIN services — including information and referral, case management, advocacy, and education — are provided at no cost to eligible clients. There is no income test or insurance requirement. SJBIN is a state-funded program through the California Department of Rehabilitation and operates as a nonprofit under Providence Health & Services.

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Services Offered

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What services does SJBIN provide to TBI survivors?

SJBIN offers a spectrum of care that ranges from brief informational support to in-depth, ongoing case management — tailored to each survivor's needs:

• Information & Referral — Connecting survivors to the right community resources for their specific situation

• Case Management — Personalized recovery planning, referrals to county services, daily routine support, and cognitive strategy development

• Advocacy — Letters of support, consultations with employers and schools, assistance with disability accommodations and benefits

• Brain Health Education — Access to current TBI research, brain health information, and community education sessions

• Weekly Classes & Groups — Community education sessions open to TBI survivors and their families

• Resource Facilitation — Guided navigation of county, state, and federal programs

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What does SJBIN's case management involve?

After completing the intake form, a SJBIN team member contacts the client to complete a registration that assesses their strengths, challenges, and goals. From this, the team develops a personalized recovery plan, which may include:

• Referrals to relevant Orange County or California state services

• Creation of daily routines to support cognitive functioning

• Education about TBI and brain health strategies

• Incorporation of cognitive compensatory strategies (tools to work around memory or attention deficits)

• Follow-up at whatever frequency the client prefers — weekly, monthly, or annually

Case management is collaborative and client-directed — survivors guide the pace and depth of their involvement.

 

What does SJBIN's advocacy service include?

SJBIN advocacy goes beyond information — team members actively intervene on behalf of clients when needed. Advocacy services may include:

• Letters of support to employers, schools, or benefits agencies documenting a client's TBI-related needs

• Workplace accommodation consultations — helping clients understand and request reasonable adjustments under the ADA

• Educational accommodation support — assisting students with TBI to access services at colleges and universities

• Benefit navigation — helping clients access Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), Medi-Cal, and other public benefits

• Referrals for assessments — facilitating functional capacity evaluations, cognitive testing, and activities of daily living (ADL) assessments when needed to strengthen a claim or care plan

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Does SJBIN help TBI survivors with employment?

Yes. Helping survivors access gainful employment is one of SJBIN's stated core goals. Support may include advocacy with current employers regarding workplace accommodations, referrals to the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) for vocational rehabilitation services, assistance documenting functional limitations for disability claims, and connections to community reintegration programs. SJBIN can also provide in-service presentations directly to employers to build awareness of TBI in the workplace.

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Does SJBIN help with housing?

Accessible housing is another of SJBIN's core program goals. SJBIN can help TBI survivors navigate housing resources, including referrals to the Dayle McIntosh Disability Resource Center, HUD housing programs, and other county and state resources for people with disabilities. Survivors with complex housing needs may be connected to more comprehensive programs through the SJBIN resource network.

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Support for Family and Caregivers

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Does SJBIN support family members and caregivers of TBI survivors?

Yes — family caregivers of TBI survivors in Orange County can access specialized support through SJBIN's formal partner, the Caregiver Resource Center of Orange County (CRC OC) at caregiveroc.org. CRC OC services include:

• Individual counseling and family consultations

• Caregiver support groups

• Educational classes on caregiving skills and self-care

• Respite care financial assistance

• Legal and financial consultations for caregiving families

CRC OC is part of the statewide California Caregiver Resource Centers network — all services are free to eligible family caregivers.

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Supporting SJBIN

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How can I support SJBIN's mission?

Donations to SJBIN fund services that help TBI survivors and their families access support, service coordination, and resources that enhance independent living and community reintegration. To give, visit the Providence charitable giving portal and designate your gift to "St. Jude Brain Injury Network" in the comments field. Other ways to support SJBIN include referring clients, inviting SJBIN to provide in-service presentations at your organization, and spreading awareness in the Orange County community.