CBIST Spotlight: Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga
Categories: ACBIS Insider, Professionals
Dr. Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga PhD, CRC, CVE, ICVE (D), CLCP, IPEC, CBIST, FACRM received her doctorate in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Florida. She is employed as a tenured Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies, Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida, Tampa. Her research interest areas include employment for persons with disabilities. Other interests include family and community support, caregiving, and community re-integration for civilians and Veterans with traumatic brain injury. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), a Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE), a Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP), International Certified Vocational Evaluator (ICVE) and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST).
In her career as a rehabilitation counselor and rehabilitation scientist, she has worked in a diverse array of settings. Rehabilitation counseling is a multifaceted process where the counselor works collaboratively with clients and families to understand existing barriers, challenges, and potentials in order to facilitate personal, social, vocational, and community adjustment following disability. During her career, she has worked both independently and collaboratively at the local, state, national, and international levels to research the community reintegration (CR) needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. Through her research program, she works closely with adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI), a population that experiences multiple deficits, and for whom rehabilitation needs are significant. TBI can result in chronic medical, cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms along with pain and other co-morbid mental health disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder).
What made you choose a career in brain injury? Why are you passionate about BI?
During my doctoral studies, I was approached by the Brain Injury Association of Florida to evaluate one of their prevention programs. I enjoyed working with the organization and serving the population; I remained with the organization for 7 years. I am also a voluntary guardian of an adult sibling with TBI.
What are specific needs that youth with BI have when re-integrating back into their community? How has resource facilitation addressed their needs and reduced recidivism?
First, I would like to share information about a current grant project.
Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); FLDJJ: OJJDP-2020-17350
Funding Level: $750,000
Role: Site Principal Investigator
This project is collaborative effort between the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, University of South Florida (College of Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling and College of Criminology), Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Non-profit Youth Opportunity Foundation (inclusive of Traumatic Brain Injury expert practitioners and researchers), and a service provider of juvenile justice services. The ultimate goal of the project is to reduce recidivism through the creation of a Traumatic Brain Injury Continuum of services for juvenile justice youth reentering the community from long-term residential placement.
Regarding specific needs, I would like to recognize the research and work of Dr. Drew Nagele and Dr. Lance Trexler and colleagues.
Nagele, D., Vaccaro, M., Schmidt, M. J., & Keating, D. (2018). Brain injury in an offender population: Implications for reentry and community transition. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 57(8), 562-585.
Trexler, L. E., & Parrott, D. (2022). The impact of resource facilitation on recidivism for individuals with traumatic brain injury: A pilot, non-randomized controlled study. Brain Injury, 1-8.
Brain injury is often invisible, under-reported and under-diagnosed, yet can affect youth in ways that are life-altering which can lead to justice system involvement. There is strong evidence that diagnosing and treating adult offenders with TBI utilizing an intervention called Resource Facilitation (RF) shows recidivism reduction. One promising intervention that may reduce recidivism following release from residential placement is a brain injury specific intervention targeted at improving community integration and productivity called Resource Facilitation (RF), developed by Trexler and colleagues. RF is an evidence-based TBI-specific service and support navigation process to promote return to work/school and is guided by a team of brain injury rehabilitation professionals. The resource facilitator (RF) provides brain injury specific education, promotes awareness of brain injury-unique supports and services, and engages the individual with appropriate brain injury supports and services.
Why is having a CBIS(T) important to you? How is it helpful in your daily work?
ACBIS provides programs that allow individuals an opportunity to learn important information about brain injury. Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) is a credential for individuals who assist persons with brain injury to restore, maintain, and promote optimal health. CBIS is the next step in professional development and has been widely recognized and respected for many years in the field of brain injury.
I have been a CBIST since 2009. Through this experience I have had the opportunity to train approximately 1000 BI professionals in Florida. Being a CBIST helps me stay connected to the BI community and provides excellent opportunities for networking, collaboration and continuing education.