William I. Gardner Award

The William I. Gardner Award is START’s highest honor, recognizing a professional who has made significant contributions in the effort to improve the lives of people with IDD and behavioral health needs. This recipient exemplifies START’s mission of increasing expertise in the system.

We are pleased to announce Deborah Dorfman, JD as the 2017 William I. Gardner Award recipient. Deborah has successfully advocated for the civil rights of children and adults with disabilities over the past 25 years. Her advocacy efforts have promoted positive change in the lives of people with disabilities throughout the United States.

START Clinical Team Member Awards

These awards recognize START professionals who demonstrate a thorough understanding of the START model and have made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people supported through START. These recipients exemplify START’s core value of positive engagement with individuals, families, and the service system.

• START Coordinator | Boniface Nyangau, TX START, Tarrant County

• In-Home Supports | Renee Potter, NY START, Region 1

• Team Leader | David Schlesselman, NY START, Region 1

• Program Director | Liv Salvador, VA REACH, Region 2

• Clinical/Medical Leadership | Jennifer McLaren, MD, NH START & Leslie Smith, MD, ArkSTART

START Network Partner Awards

These awards recognize network partners, in collaboration with a START team, for their significant contribution to improving the system of support for individuals with IDD and behavioral health needs. These recipients embody START’s core value of enhancing the capacity of the system.

• Lifespan Services | Angie Francis, New York State Office for People With   Developmental Disability

• Children’s Services | Diane Jacobstein, PhD, Georgetown University Center for Child & Human Development/UCEDD 

Care Coordination Award

This award recognizes a care coordinator who has worked closely and positively with a START team to improve the system of support for individuals with IDD and behavioral health needs. The recipient recognizes the importance of collaborative, systemic work between START teams and care coordination in the system.

• Christy Pruess, Vaya Health

Special Recognition Awards

• Bob Lincoln, Iowa START

• Dan Tomasulo, PhD, Columbia University, Teachers College

ArkSTART’s Model Clinic: Pioneering a Design for Change
ArkSTART: Whitney Emerson, LPC, CRC; Angela Green, LCSW; Ginny Reding, MS, LCP, LAMFT

Assessing Community Service Systems: A Critical First Step In Developing Accessible, Appropriate and Accountable Services for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health Needs
The Center for START Services: Ann Klein, MA

Assessment Results Indicate Positive Outcomes for Individuals Accessing START Tarrant Services
TX START Tarrant County: Linda Kurland, MS, CCC-SLP; Hannah Bednar, LMSW; Megan Wilcox, MSW; Kirk Broome, PhD

Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children Ages 6-17 NYSTART Richmond Kings Review of Children Being Served
NY START Region 4 (Richmond-Kings): Ebony Medas, LMHC; Sharon Cyrus-Savary, LMHC; Madeline Rosensweet, LMSW

Expanding I-START Services and Reducing Service Outcomes Through the Use of the START Model and SIRS Data 
Iowa START: Tiffany Liska, BA; Lynn Phillips, BSW; Jessi Kettenacker, BA

From START to Finish
VA REACH Region 2: Mojgan Pourmand, PsyD; Laura Phillips, MSW

Impact of Crisis Admissions at the START Resource Center on Subsequent Crisis Service Utilization
VA REACH Region 1: Katherine Howell, LCSW

Implementation of In Home Therapeutic Supports with Children and Adults
NY START Region 1: Caitlin Sestokas, MSW, MOAL

Measuring Change in Access, Appropriateness, and Accountability of START Services Using the Family Experiences Interview Schedule
The Center for START Services: Luke Kalb, MHS; Andrea Caoili, LCSW

Medication Side-Effects and Medical Problems of Individuals with IDD and Behavioral Health Challenges Admitted for START Emergency Resource Center Services 
NC START East: Lauren Charlot, PhD; Priscila Hilligus, MS, MSW, LCSWA; Jennifer Ritchie, RN; Latoya Ross
NC START West: Anne Doucette, PhD

Multiethnic NYC and NY START: Service Selection as Mediated by Ethnic Group
NY START Region 4 (Tri-borough): Riddhi Mehta, MA; Erin Murphy, MEd; Ros Burton-Robertson, PhD; Katy Stratigos, MD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma-Informed Mental Health Services in a Sample of Active NY START Region 3 Clients
NY START Region 3: Amy Cohen Anneling, PhD; Cindy Hill, LMSW; Laurie Hoagland, LMHC

Primary and Secondary Intervention: Supporting Individuals in New Hampshire to Divert Emergency Room Use and Psychiatric Hospitalization
NH START: Barb Drotos, LICSW; Val Tetreault, BS; Bev Richardson, MEd

Promoting Wellness with Yoga Practice for People with IDD/MH 
Keith Beasley, Certified Yoga Instructor

Using the Recent Stressor Questionnaire (RSQ) to Identify Trends in Child Referrals
NC START Central: Anne LaForce, MA, LPA; Jason Tuell, LCSW-A

The 3 A’s of the El Paso START Program in Motion
TX START El Paso: Kristal Garcia, LMSW