The Virginia Brain Injury Council (VBIC) is a statewide advisory group formed in 1986. The VBIC advises and makes recommendations to DARS regarding the development and delivery of brain injury services in Virginia.
Mission
The mission of the VBIC is to promote accessible, affordable, and appropriate services for Virginians with brain injury and their families by advising DARS.
Duties
The VBIC shall:
- Serve as the advisory body for the federal Administration on Community Living (ACL) Traumatic Brain Injury Grant when such funding is awarded to DARS
- Provide recommendations to DARS on the disbursement of new state general funds appropriated for brain injury services, including priorities and criteria for the use of funds
Membership
Members of the VBIC include brain injury survivors, their families and caregivers, healthcare professionals and service providers, state agency representatives, and community members. Individuals who are interested in joining the VBIC must complete an application. The VBIC Nominating Committee screens reviews applications first. The Nominating Committee then submits potential candidates to the DARS Commissioner for appointment consideration.
VBIC —Quarterly Meeting Notice
The VBIC will host a quarterly meeting on January 28, 2026 from 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. This meeting is all virtual and requires pre-registration to attend. Register at: The Virginia Brain Injury Council Quarterly meeting.
- View Past Events above for recent prior meetings along with accompanying agendas and minutes. You can also find agendas and minutes from older meetings on our SharePoint website.
Board Documents
Committees
The Executive Committee consists of all Officers (i.e., Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Family Ombudsman, and Immediate Past Chair, if one). The Executive Committee has and may exercise powers of the full Council between meetings, except that the Executive Committee cannot reverse a Council vote or establish or change Council bylaws or Council policy. Any actions taken by the Executive Committee are reported and ratified at the next meeting of the full Council. View Past Events above for recent prior committee meetings along with accompanying agendas and minutes. To obtain agendas or minutes from older committee meetings, please contact Donna Cantrell via email at vbic@dars.virginia.gov or via phone at 804-662-7069.
The Priorities Committee is responsible for developing a document summarizing the Council’s annual priorities (“Priorities Letter”) to be voted on by the full Council. Upon approval by the Council, the Council’s Priorities Letter is sent to the DARS Commissioner. View Past Events above for recent prior committee meetings along with accompanying agendas and minutes. To obtain agendas or minutes from older committee meetings, please contact Donna Cantrell via email at vbic@dars.virginia.gov or via phone at 804-662-7069.
The Nominating Committee is charged with:
- Screening candidates for At-Large Voting Member slots and submitting them to the DARS Commissioner for appointment consideration
- Screening candidates for officer positions and submitting a slate of candidates to the full Council for elections.
View Past Events above for recent prior committee meetings along with accompanying agendas and minutes. To obtain agendas or minutes from older committee meetings, please contact Donna Cantrell via email at vbic@dars.virginia.gov or via phone at 804-662-7069.
This Committee meets to make funding recommendations to DARS’ Commissioner when the Virginia General Assembly allocates new funding for brain injury services. This Committee is appointed each year, but it does not meet unless new funds are approved. View Past Events above for recent prior committee meetings along with accompanying agendas and minutes. To obtain agendas or minutes from older committee meetings, please contact Donna Cantrell via email at vbic@dars.virginia.gov or via phone at 804-662-7069.
- Bylaws committee
This Committee meets as needed to review the Bylaws and updates them based on Council guidance or procedural changes related to FOIA. View Past Events above for recent prior committee meetings along with accompanying agendas and minutes. To obtain agendas or minutes from older committee meetings, please contact Donna Cantrell via email at vbic@dars.virginia.gov or via phone at 804-662-7069.
- Orientation Planning Committee
This Committee’s intent was to review the Council’s existing Orientation and on-boarding processes for new members and to make recommendations on improvements. This Committee is not meeting on a regular basis. View Past Events above for recent prior committee meetings along with accompanying agendas and minutes. To obtain agendas or minutes from older committee meetings, please contact Donna Cantrell via email at vbic@dars.virginia.gov or via phone at 804-662-7069.
- Housing Workgroup
This Workgroup met numerous times from 2021 through 2023. The Workgroup’s charge was to study the housing needs of individuals living with brain injury. The Workgroup produced a report for the full VBIC with information on what the Workgroup learned and the Workgroup’s recommendations.To obtain agendas or minutes from the workgroup meetings, please contact Donna Cantrell via email at vbic@dars.virginia.gov or via phone at 804-662-7069.