BrainSTARS: pilot data on a team-based intervention program for students who have acquired brain injury

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurorehabilitation
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Acquired brain injury (ABI) presents significant challenges for students in educational settings.
• Parents and educators require specialized knowledge and strategies to support children with ABI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the BrainSTARS (Brain Injury: Strategies for Teams and Re-education for Students) program.
• To assess the program's impact on the competencies of parents and school personnel working with children with ABI.

Main Methods:

• A pre/post single-group design was employed.
• The study involved 30 students with ABI and their parents, educators, and school personnel.
• The BrainSTARS intervention included a manual and three in-school consultation meetings.

Main Results:

• Participants reported significant improvements in their proficiency in working with children with ABI.
• Self-ratings indicated enhanced student performance in targeted neurodevelopmental areas post-intervention.
• No significant changes were observed in standardized child behavior assessments (BRIEF, BASC).

Conclusions:

• The BrainSTARS program effectively enhances the perceived competencies of adults supporting students with ABI.
• Further research is needed to investigate the program's direct impact on student behavior and long-term outcomes.