Strengthening Communities: A Mentoring Program for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury

This pilot study presents the results of a 9-month mentor program for 7 adults with acquired brain injury (ABI). Outcomes were measured using the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) and interviews at pre and post program, and then repeated again at a six-month follow-up to provide three data collection points. The mentor program sought to address the community support needs of adults with ABI, achieve individual goals, facilitate community reintegration and participation, develop robust networks, and enhance individual skills and coping strategies. Case studies are presented describing each mentor relationship and the goals and outcomes for each couple. Small but significant improvements were noted on the CIQ post-program, suggesting improvements in home integration, social integration, productivity, and total CIQ scores, with further research required to determine if these results generalize to a larger sample. These improvements were not sustained by 6-month follow-up, with scores falling back to baseline levels in all areas except productivity. This report identifies the factors that influence the success of the mentor relationship, explores the impact on achievement of mentee goals and community inclusion, and indicates the benefits of participating in a mentor program for people with ABI. Recommendations for future mentor programs are highlighted. The development and evaluation of this pilot study provides a useful model for mentor programs which may be applied to other areas of disability and community support. This research project was funded by Community Benefit SA with the support of the Epilepsy Association of SA & NT. Ethics approval received from Flinders University Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee (SBRE 3680)