Welcome to REAP!
For over a decade, the REAP concussion management protocols have been revered as the gold standard for an interdisciplinary approach to return to school, return to learn and return to play after a brain injury. This tool has been implemented in more than 16 states with more adopting the practices each year.
NASHIA is proud to partner with Dr. Karen McAvoy to scale the REAP protocol nationwide, ensuring that families everywhere have access to critical information to ensure the best outcomes for students who have experienced a concussion. These protocols are updated, incorporating the most current recommendations and best practices, most recently from the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport (Amsterdam 2022).
The beauty of REAP is its ease of implementation and use by families, schools and the medical community. NASHIA is committed to ensuring that all families have access to support successful recovery and reintegration to school and sports after a brain injury. REAP is an essential tool for all families, school personnel and the medical community to achieve this goal.
Rebeccah Wolfkiel
Executive Director
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
REAP® stands for:
- Remove/Reduce
- Educate
- Adjust/Accommodate
- Pace
REAP is a community program that helps schools take care of students who have concussions. It was created in Colorado after a sad event in 2004, when a high school freshman football player died from “Second Impact Syndrome.”
The program was created by Dr Karen McAvoy, who was the school psychologist at the time. After the tragedy, she brought together people from the school—like the athletic trainer, school nurse, counselors, teachers, and administrators—and people outside the school, such as students, parents, and healthcare professionals. Together, they built a strong support system to help students with concussions.
From 2004 to 2009, this team approach grew from one school to an entire school district. In 2009, with funding from MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network, Dr. McAvoy wrote down the key steps for good concussion care and officially named the program REAP.
Today, REAP is a model that any community can use to help keep students with concussions safe and supported.
Family
Team
School
Team
Physical
School
Team
Academic
Medical
Team
If you are a family member of a student with a concussion, go to the orange “Family Team” sections. If you are a healthcare provider, read the green sections. If you work at a school, read the light and dark blue sections based on your job.
REAP has been changed to fit different states. It is a trusted guide used from the emergency room to schools to doctor’s offices. Many people across the country and around the world know that REAP helps manage concussions the right way.
REAP is authored by: Karen McAvoy, PsyD
© 2024 KAREN McAVOY, PSYD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Fourth Edition, 2024