The Jodi House Journal

December 2023

Jodi House members enjoy the annual Holly Jolly Holiday Party.

Message from the Executive Director

Seasons Greetings!

What a year 2023 has been for Jodi House! We served more brain injury survivors than in any year of our organization's history. I'm pleased to share several highlights from our work this past year:

• We served 166 brain injury survivors in a total of 20 counties in 7 U.S. states and Canada.
• We provided 8,703 direct hours of program services.
• We conducted a comprehensive needs assessment of our key stakeholders and adopted a Strategic Plan for the organization. 
• We held our second annual fundraiser at MOXI Museum, where 200 community members helped us raise more than $62,000 to support our program.
• We furthered our collaboration with Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital and saw a 20% increase in referrals of patients discharged from the hospital.

Thank you for your support and partnership that has made this an unprecedented year in our organization's 42-year history.

We wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday and year-end!

Cheers,

Lindsey Black

Executive Director

Introducing Spanish Language Class

Studies have shown that learning a new language has many cognitive benefits, including improved memory, communication skills, and problem-solving. This month at Jodi House, we introduced a weekly Spanish language class. Our new bilingual instructor, Katherine Baker, is excited to work with our members to help strengthen their language and cognitive skills. To learn more about the brain-boosting benefits of learning a new language, read the article below.

Holly Jolly Holiday Potluck & Party!

Jodi House social events are a time for community and celebration. On December 20th, members, staff, and volunteers gathered for a holiday gathering full of food, laughter, and togetherness.

Thank you, MARCUS Boutique!

On Giving Tuesday, November 28th, MARCUS Boutique in Montecito hosted a private shopping event to benefit Jodi House. Supporters gathered for an evening of holiday shopping and refreshments, and 10% of proceeds came back to Jodi House. Thank you, MARCUS Boutique, for hosting us for this fun and festive event!

Work & Benefits Planning Presentation

Becky Spadoro

Work Incentives Planner

Department of Rehabilitation

Navigating employment and finances after a brain injury can be extremely overwhelming and confusing.

Earlier this month, Becky Spadoro, Work Incentives Planner at the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), spoke to members about the myths surrounding working with a disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Work Incentives. During Becky's presentation, members learned about work incentives and planning resources.

• To learn more about the DOR’s Work Incentives Planning Services, visit https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/WIP
• To view a recording of the presentation:

Afternoon of Gratitude

Members celebrated our annual Afternoon of Gratitude on November 16th. This event allows us to reflect, appreciate, and celebrate each of our journeys.

Year-End Giving

Please consider making a year-end tax-deductible gift to Jodi House if you have not already done so. It's your support that enables us to provide our services to all brain injury survivors and their families, regardless of the ability to pay. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference in the lives of our members.