At our recent strategic planning session, the Arizona Governor’s Council on Spinal and Head Injuries focused on “Connecting with our Constituents.” It’s a critical issue for us, because an important part of our job is to communicate the needs of consumers and family members to those people who make policies and manage programs.

But our connections go deeper that that. Members are appointed to our Council because of their profound personal and/or professional connections to individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI). They are leaders in their home communities, who come together as Council members to learn from each other and other experts in the field.

Then, with increased knowledge and commitment, they return to their home communities as better informed, more articulate, and more committed advocates for change.

Take Council member Danielle Puentedura, for example. The mother of a child with TBI, Danielle traveled regularly with her son from her home in Yuma to receive services at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. She was referred to the Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs (OCSHCN) Service Coordination program and soon became involved with OCSHCN’s Tsunami Parent Leadership Group. As a result of her passionate involvement, she was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Council.

Since that time, Danielle has joined the OCSHCN team as a TBI service coordinator for Yuma, a city which has historically had few TBI resources. She’s founded a chapter of the Brain Injury Association of Arizona in her community, and she’s initiated a Resource Round-up Group in Yuma as well. She’s taken her ideas and her energy from the community, to the Council, and back to the community.

Danielle’s story is just one of many. Each in their own way, our Council members have used their personal and professional experiences to bring expertise to the Council, and used what they have gained as Council members to make positive changes in their communities. It’s inspiring to see the power of human connections at work.

And speaking of connections, I’m honored to take over the position of Chairperson of the Arizona Governor’s Council on Spinal and Head Injury from Roger Schuler. I’ll be working with Sharon Philips, the Council’s new Vice Chairperson, and Phil Barry, who will continue in the role of Secretary. We all thank Roger for his years of service on behalf of the Council.

Please drop us a line or give us a call if you have any feedback on this issue of Vistas. We’d love to hear from you.