March 4, 2024

           (TRENTON) – Commissioner Sarah Adelman today announced Human Services is seeking proposals to develop evidence-based, community crisis prevention and intervention services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs.

            Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) has issued a request for proposals to develop a new START Model program.

START – which stands for Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment – provides community-based crisis prevention and intervention services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs. This model focuses on reducing emergency room visits, hospitals admissions, caregiver burnout, and calls to police as well as building community capacity to successfully support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs.

“START is recognized for its person-centered, solutions-focused approach that employs positive psychology and other evidence-based practices to address mental health conditions that are too often misdiagnosed, under-diagnosed, or undiagnosed among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Commissioner Adelman said. “This will be another step in our statewide efforts to improve and expand crisis response, and to ensure the best services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their safety – and quality of life – is always a priority.”

New Jersey has invested $3.2 million to establish a crisis stabilization team – including staff training, materials, and resources necessary for service provision serving eligible people in the state’s southern region.

“This innovative approach will help advance our goal to provide the most comprehensive services for all adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals with complex behavioral challenges and mental health needs,” Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Disability Services Kaylee McGuire said. “With START, we’re expanding the types of supports available to ensure the best crisis response prevention and intervention efforts based on evidence that works.”

The National Center for START Services, an initiative of the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, will serve as a collaborative partner in the development of these programs.

This initiative complements the Department’s ongoing efforts to expand and strengthen supports available to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health needs.

As part of the Department’s plan to invest $100 million for home- and community-based services, funding is dedicated for direct support professionals to obtain a national dual diagnosis specialist certification to enhance training for working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness.

START also follows a range of efforts over the past five years including funding for additional community-based emergency beds and the creation of community-based and acute behavioral stabilization programs that expand the array of services available for individuals with developmental disabilities and complex behavioral and mental health needs.

“We look forward to implementing this program and working in collaboration with our partners to improve crisis response for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Division of Developmental Disabilities Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Seifried said. “We encourage qualified agencies to apply. They can be part of something innovative and groundbreaking here in New Jersey which, if successful, we’d be excited to seek to expand in the future.”