NJ START Program to Launch Diverse Group Convened by DDD

The New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) continues to focus on improving service delivery for adults in New Jersey who have an intellectual and/or developmental disability (including autism spectrum disorders) and co-occurring mental health needs (IDD-MH).  Consequentially, in the FY’24 Budget they were successful in securing one-time funds to establish community-based crisis intervention for adults with IDD and mental health needs by implementing up to two START Model Crisis Response Teams.  To support this effort, DDD is collaborating with The University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability to develop two regional START programs in New Jersey designed to strengthen and enhance crisis services for individuals with IDD-MH.

To begin to plan for the development and implementation of NJ START programs, DDD will be bringing together a diverse, interdisciplinary group of colleagues and community partners to facilitate conversation about areas where system processes have been successful and areas where there are gaps in meeting the crisis needs of people with IDD-MH. The participating partners will also learn how the START initiative will work in tandem with existing programs to offer a new level of coordinated, person-centered crisis prevention and intervention services.

ABCD is pleased that our Board Treasurer, Barbara Greenwald, COO of the Center for Family Support, will be representing our organization at this meeting. Barbara has been instrumental in shaping ABCD’s policy on mental health care for our population, beginning with ABCD’s November 2020 white paper, subsequent white papers, meetings, and testimonials, including our support to bring START to NJ.