People with traumatic brain injury suffer a variety of challenges depending on the degree and extent of their injury.  Dealing with TBI is challenging for both the patient and his or her family, but sharing your experiences with people who have had similar experiences can help.  TBI support groups provide the opportunity to make friends and learn more about TBI.

Different TBI support groups have different focuses, so check out several, if possible, to see which one best meets your needs.  Some TBI support groups emphasize learning about TBI, while others emphasize offering adaptive recreational opportunities for TBI patients.  Some groups have meetings for patients and separate meetings for caregivers and family members, while others invite any one interested in TBI to the same meeting.  There a few groups solely for people with mild TBI.

We have tried to make the following list of TBI support groups in Maryland as complete as possible.  Since support groups change or disband without warning we advise you to call before traveling to the group’s meeting place for the first time.  If you cannot find a group in your area, you may wish to start one.  The Brain Injury Association of Maryland offers helpful advice on starting your own support group: http://www.biamd.org/

Baltimore Area

Brain Injury Support Group

This group meets on the first Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Meeting place:

Kernan Hospital
2200 Kernan Drive
Baltimore, MD 21207

Contact:

Sonja Thoreson 410-448-6303
 

Caregivers Support Group

This group for caregivers meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m.

Meeting place:
 
Kernan Hospital - Conference Room C
2200 Kernan Drive
Baltimore, MD 21207

Contact:

Gwen Alexander 410-448-6311
 

RETURN! Brain Injury Support Group

This group meets the third Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Meeting place:

Sinai Hospital
Schoeneman Building
2401 West Belvedere Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215

Contact:

Kerry Riggs 410-601-6080
 

Caregiver Support Group

This group meets on the first Thursday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m.  Please call the Spiritual Care department ahead of time to register.

Meeting place:

St. Joseph Medical Center
7601 Osler Drive
Towson, MD 21204

Contact:

Spiritual Care 410-337-1109

Bel Air

Upper Chesapeake Support Group

This group meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month.

Upper Chesapeake Medical Center
500 Upper Chesapeake Drive
Bel Air, Maryland  21014

Contact:

Paul Neilson 410-803-7399

Columbia

Humanim Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings for Individuals with Brain Injury

This group aimed at support people who have a brain injury and are addicted to alcohol meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm.

Meeting place:

6355 Woodside Court
Columbia, MD 21046

Contact:

Bill Kerrigan  410-381-1500 ext 2330

Eldersburg

TBI Survivor Support Group

This group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.

Meeting place:

St. Joseph's Catholic Community
915 Liberty Road
Eldersburg, Maryland 21784

Contact:

Eileen Rudnick  410-795-7318
E-mail:  mrudnicks@aol.com  

Elkton

Caregivers Support Group

This group meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 3 to 4 p.m.  After a hiatus, these meetings are scheduled to resume in September 2009.

Meeting place:

Union Hospital, Adult Daycare Center
106 Bow Street
Elkton, Maryland 21921

Contact:

Gay Nell Straughan 410-392-0539

Hagerstown

Headway Support Group

This group meets from 3 to 4 p.m. on the first Monday of the month.

Meeting place:

Robinwood Medical Center
Community Room, Suite 102
11110 Medical Campus Road
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740

Contact:

Matt Lilly 301-714-4028

La Plata

Charles County Brain Injury Support Group

This group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month.

Meeting place:

Spring Dell Center
6040 Radio Station Road
La Plata, Maryland 20646

Contact:

Jerry 301-934-4561 ext 111
 

Website: www.ccbrain.wordpress.com 

Rockville

Brain Injury Support Group of Rockville

As a partnership between Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland and TLC's Outcomes Service, brain injury survivors, caregivers and their families meet twice monthly to exchange information and offer support.

Meeting place:

Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital
9909 Medical Center Drive
Rockville,  Maryland 20850

Contact:

Tom Wilkinson 301-294-9205 ext. 6915

Young Stroke Group (20's - 60's)

      
This group for younger stroke patients meets on the first and third Fridays of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Bethesda/Rockville area.   Please call for more information.

Contact: 

Susan Montgomery 301-897-8815

Washington, D.C. Area

Head Injury Support Group

This group meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

Meeting place:

Prince George's Hospital
3001 Hospital Drive
Cheverly, Maryland 20785

Contact:

Jean Gavel 301-868-6278 or 301-943-1461
 

Montgomery County Stroke Association, Inc (MCSA)

This association offers support groups and programs in Leisure World of Maryland, Bethesda, Rockville, and Silver Spring, Maryland.  Please call for more information.

Contact:

301-681-6272
Website: www.mcstroke.org
E-mail: info@mcstroke.org 

Salisbury

Chesapeake Rehabilitation Support Group

This group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Meeting place:

Chesapeake Rehabilitation Hospital
220 Tilghman Road
Salisbury, Maryland 21082

Contact:

Dr. Glenwood Brooks, Jr  800-938-4600

Servena

Anne Arundel County Brain Injury Support Group

This group meets on the third Tuesday of the month from 7 to 8 p.m.

Meeting place:

Lifequest - Mary T. Maryland
820 Ritchie Highway
Severna Park, MD 21146

Contact:
 
Debbie Cottrill 410-956-0015