UA, State Partners Expand Brain Injury Care with Launch of COMPASS Initiative

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama has launched a new interdisciplinary brain health evaluation program housed in the Institute for Social Science Research in the J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences.

Comprehensive Post-Acute Specialty Services, or COMPASS, supports individuals across Alabama who continue to experience behavioral, cognitive, neurological or functional challenges after a concussion or traumatic brain injury.

Finding Direction After Brain Injury

The COMPASS initiative is a structured, family-centered model. Caregivers are included in the evaluation process to better understand household impacts, communication needs and long-term functional challenges.

While emergency and acute care systems excel at saving lives after a traumatic brain injury, many Alabamians continue to struggle long after they return home. These individuals often navigate multiple providers without a coordinated, interdisciplinary plan.

"COMPASS was developed because too many individuals living with the long-term effects of brain injury find themselves navigating fragmented systems without clear answers," David White, director of the COMPASS initiative, said. "Even when imaging appears normal, cognitive, emotional and behavioral symptoms can persist and profoundly affect daily life. We designed this clinic to provide a same-day, comprehensive assessment that translates complex symptoms into a clear, actionable roadmap - not just for the individual, but for their family and care team."

The program addresses a critical gap between acute medical care and coordinated long-term recovery by offering the tools and structure many Alabamians have never had access to.

COMPASS uses validated, preclinic screening tools paired with a same-day, interdisciplinary evaluation model. It brings multiple clinical perspectives together in one coordinated visit, producing a unified set of recommendations tailored to each individual.

Coordinating State Resources to Help Alabamians

State leaders have strengthened Alabama's brain injury system of care in recent years through collaboration with the Governor's Office, the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee, rehabilitation partners, state traumatic brain injury leadership, the justice system, and the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Mental Health.

The COMPASS program is sponsored and fully funded by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. The program will serve about half civilians and half active-duty military members and veterans. All referrals are made exclusively through ADRS, and COMPASS does not charge a fee for its services.

"Individuals who experience a traumatic brain injury often face a long recovery that requires specialized treatment and support," Jane Elizabeth Burdeshaw, commissioner of ADRS, said. "As the lead agency for the coordination of TBI services, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services can now connect more veterans and civilians with crucial behavioral health services, supports and resources through this new clinic partnership. The University of Alabama has been a wonderful partner through the years, and we look forward to continuing our life-changing work together."