Description of Service
The Florida Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center (FSCIRC), established in January 1994, serves as the statewide clearinghouse of SCI resource information for persons who have survived an SCI, their families and friends, healthcare professionals, support groups, the media, and the general public. The purpose and benefits in operating such a center are to:
- Increase knowledge of SCI related resources.
- Help prevent secondary medical complications resulting from lack of knowledge.
- Foster independence through self-knowledge.
- Provide immediate access to current SCI resource information when needed by consumers throughout their lifetime.
- Provides newly injured clients with resource information specific to traumatic spinal cord injury. This information is distributed to the BSCIP regional offices in backpacks that case managers deliver and discuss with newly injured clients. The FSCIRC also maintains a resource library, toll-free telephone line, and web page to provide information to consumers, family members, and professionals. The resource center provides education and training on the medical and psychosocial issues related to spinal cord injuries to third-year medical students attending state universities in Florida. The center also conducts awareness education to selected high schools highlighting the cause of spinal cord injury and the actions that should be taken to reduce the chance of injury.
- Recruits peer mentors with spinal cord injuries, coordinates the background checks, provides training and certification. Assigns peer mentors to newly injured clients. Coordinates payments to peer mentors for travel.
- Conducts ongoing satisfaction surveys on all BSCIP clients successfully reintegrated back into the community. The purpose of these surveys are to ensure clients were provided appropriate information, were able to access federal, state and community resources, and were not experiencing issues impacting their health and safety. Provides information on resources available to address any issues identified in these surveys.
- Conducts one year follow-up survey to assess client’s status in the community. Provide clients with technical assistance to address any issues they may be experiencing.