
Sheraton Austin at the Capitol
701 E 11th St
Austin, TX 78701
United States

Building Connections & Activating Strengths: 35 Years of START
The SNTI was founded in 2016 to provide a forum where START network partners from across the country learn about the newest research and evidence-based approaches, along with best practices and innovations associated with START programs, to improve local capacity, service outcomes, and life experiences for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and mental health needs (IDD-MH) and their families. The SNTI is delivered over the course of 2 ½ days and includes keynote presentations, panel presentations, breakout sessions, and a research poster session.
Registration Rates:
Full Price Registration: $750
Single Day Rate Monday: $300
Single Day Rate Tuesday: $300
Single Day Rate Wednesday: $150
START Team Members should check their email for a discount code off the full rate and further instructions. No discounts on single-day rates.
Want to register a group? Or have other questions? Email ncss.training.iod@unh.edu
The registration system will ask which breakout sessions you are interested in. You can use the "shift" key to select a group or the "CTRL" key to select multiple entries. You will be able to change your selections later. Official breakout session registration will be sent to you in the coming months.
The registration system is set up to have registrants confirm their entries after making payment. This allows you to change your answers if needed. After clicking through that confirmation, you will see your receipt and end of registration page.
Further questions may be directed to ncss.training.iod@unh.edu.
Hotel Information
Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol, Austin, Texas 78701
Reduced START room block rate: $189
Rooms are limited. Book as soon as possible.
Book your group rate reservation online
Last Day to Book: April 9, 2023
Travel Information
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport serves the Greater Austin metropolitan area, and is located about 5 miles southeast of Downtown Austin.
3600 Presidential Blv
Austin, Texas 78719
2023 Theme: Building Connections & Activating Strengths: 35 Years of START
Overall Objectives:
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Demonstrate at least three (3) practices that build connections and activate strengths for people with IDD-MH and their families
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Identify at least three (3) resources found within research, policies and practices that promote building connections and activating strengths
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Describe how building connections and activating strengths can be implemented as strategies to enhance the quality of services provided to people with IDD-MH and their families
Schedule
Monday, May 1st |
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7:00am |
Check-In for SNTI Registrants/Information Desk Available |
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7:00am-7:45am |
Morning Meditation/Chair Yoga Ashley Fleming, Down Home Ranch (Austin, TX) |
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8:30am-9:10am |
Welcome & Opening Remarks Haley Turner, MSW, Deputy Executive Commissioner Community Services, Chief Program and Services Office Kelly Nye-Lengerman, PhD, MSW, Director, Institute on Disability Pam Flaherty, MEd, Executive Director, NCSS Beth Grosso, MSW, NCSS Director of Training & Professional Development |
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9:10am-10:10am |
Keynote |
History of START Joan B. Beasley, PhD, LMHC, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH, Author of the START model |
10:10am-10:25am |
Break |
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10:25am-11:25am |
Plenary |
Strength Activation Dan Tomasulo, PhD, TEP, MFA, MAPP, psychologist, writer, & professor. Academic Director & Core Faculty, Spirituality Mind Body Institute, Teachers College, Columbia University |
11:30am-12:30pm |
Panel |
Therapeutic Interventions to Promote Wellbeing Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS Joan B. Beasley, PhD, LMHC, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH, Author of the START model |
12:30pm-2:00pm |
Lunch |
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2:00pm-3:30pm |
Content Strand |
Breakout Session (topics listed below, titles may change) |
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Strength-Based Approaches, Inclusion, Community Connection |
Building Connections through the Application of the Convergence of Cultural Contexts Framework Tawara Goode, MA, Associate Professor, Director, Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities |
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Integrated Health & Wellbeing
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Integrated mental health treatment guidelines for Prescribers in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Andrea Caoili, LCSW, Director of Quality Assurance & Research, NCSS Joan B. Beasley, PhD, LMHC, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH, Author of the START model |
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Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy
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Evidence-Informed Decision Making – Ensuring Sound Implementation and Practice Ann Klein, MA, NCSS Director of Evaluation and Outcomes Ginny Reding, LPC, LMFT, NCSS Quality Assurance/SIRS Specialist Maya Hu-Morabito, MA, NCSS Program Development Lead |
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Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention & Intervention Through Connection
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Structural Systemic Approaches used in Crisis Intervention Jillaine Baker, MSW, LCSW, NCSS Associate Director of Quality Assurance Alyce Benson, MSW, LCSW, NCSS Associate Project Facilitator Russell Lehmann, Speaker, Writer, Poet, Advocate
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3:30pm-3:45pm |
Break |
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3:45pm-5:15pm |
Content Strand |
Breakout Session (topics listed below, titles may change) |
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Strength-Based Approaches, Inclusion, Community Connection |
Let’s Talk Brass Tacks: Translating START Principles into Effective Facilitation Strategies Val Tetreault, MAPP, NH START Program Director Beverly Richardson, MEd, NH START Clinical Team Lead Kristal Garcia, LMSW, NCSS Program Development Lead |
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Integrated Health & Wellbeing |
“I’m Not Psychotic!”: Recognizing and Responding to Trauma-Based Dissociation Rémy Jodrey, MS, LCMHC, NC Central START Therapeutic Coaching Team Lead Mallory Willis, CTRS, LRT, NC Central Therapeutic Coach Maggie Robbins, MA, LCAT, RDT, NC START Central Clinical Director Jenee Lewis-Walker, PsyD, LCP, NCSS Director of Child Mental Health Services Roberto Blanco, MD, NC Central START Medical Director |
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Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy |
PEIS Workshop Jessica Kramer, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Dept of OT, Univ. of Florida Janie Poncelet, MSW, NCSS Research Assistant Micah Peace-Urquilla, BA, NCSS Research and Training Assistant |
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Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention & Intervention Through Connection |
Application of Crisis Response Strategies Anne LaForce, MA, Director of Therapeutic Coaching David O’Neal, MS, LMHC, MHP, NCSS Project Facilitator Russell Lehmann, Speaker, Writer, Poet, Advocate |
5:15pm-5:30pm |
Break |
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5:30pm-6:00pm |
Monday Meet-Up on Patio |
Tuesday, May 2nd |
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7:00am-8:00am |
Check-in for SNTI Registrants/Information Desk Available |
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7:15am-8:15am |
START Breakfast Sessions – Best Practices & New Strategies |
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Session 1 |
START Program Sustainability Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director |
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Session 2 |
START Program Implementation Overview Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS Pam Flaherty, MEd, Executive Director, NCSS |
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Session 3 |
DSM 5-TR Updates, Use of DM-ID 2 & Prescriber’s Guide Jen McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS |
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Session 4 |
PCORI Telehealth Project Joan B. Beasley, PhD, LMHC, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH, Author of the START model Luke Kalb, PhD, Chair, National Research Consortium in IDD-MH, Assistant Professor, Kennedy Krieger Institute Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Andrea Caoili, LCSW, Director of Quality Assurance & Research, NCSS Lacey Eaton, LPC, PCORI Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator Jessica Kramer, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Dept of OT, Univ. of Florida |
8:30am-8:45am |
Opening Remarks |
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8:45am-9:45am |
Plenary Panel |
Inclusive Communities Leslie Rubin, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine, Medical Director, Developmental Pediatric Specialists, Co-director of the Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Unit at Emory University, President & Founder of Break the Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc. Tawara Goode, MA, Associate Professor, Director, Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Joan B. Beasley, PhD, LMHC, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH, Author of the START model Micah Peace-Urquilla, BA, NCSS Research and Training Assistant |
9:45am-10:45am |
Research Panel |
NCSS Research Updates Andrea Caoili, LCSW, Director of Quality Assurance & Research, NCSS Luke Kalb, PhD, Chair, National Research Consortium in IDD-MH, Assistant Professor, Kennedy Krieger Institute Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Additional participants TBD |
10:45am-11:00am |
Break |
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11:00am-12:30pm |
Content Strand |
Breakout Session |
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Strength-Based Approaches, Inclusion, Community Connection |
Choose Your Own PERMA Adventure Barb Drotos, LICSW, NH START Clinical Director Beth Grosso, MSW, NCSS Director of Training & Professional Development |
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Integrated Health & Wellbeing |
Addressing Health Disparities for People with IDD Jennifer McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS Leslie Rubin, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine, Medical Director, Developmental Pediatric Specialists, Co-Director of the Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Unit at Emory University, President & Founder of Break the Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc. Karyn Harvey, PhD, Director of Training and Program Development, The Park Avenue Group |
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Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy |
PCORI Telehealth Project Workshop Telehealth Interview Findings and Recommendations Andrea Caoili, LCSW, Director of Quality Assurance & Research, NCSS Jessica Kramer, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Dept of OT, Univ. of Florida Janie Poncelet, MSW, Research Assistant Additional presenter TBD |
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Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention & Intervention Through Connection |
Assessing and Supporting People Experiencing Suicidal Ideation Across the Lifespan Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director Anne LaForce, MA, Director of Therapeutic Coaching
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12:30-12:45pm |
Break |
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12:45pm-2:15pm |
Awards Luncheon Gardner Award-Policy: Leslie Rubin, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine, Medical Director, Developmental Pediatric Specialists, Co-Director of the Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Unit at Emory University, President & Founder of Break The Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc. Gardner Award-Clinical Practice: Karyn Harvey, PhD, Director of Training and Program Development, The Park Avenue Group START Team Awards |
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2:15pm-3:45pm |
Content Strand |
Breakout Session |
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Strength-Based Approaches, Inclusion, Community Connection |
Strength Activation in Practice Dan Tomasulo, PhD, TEP, MFA, MAPP, psychologist, writer, & professor. Academic Director & Core Faculty, Spirituality Mind Body Institute, Teachers College, Columbia University Andrea Szucs, LMSW, Psychotherapist |
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Integrated Health & Wellbeing |
The Gut-Brain Axis: Improving Gut Health in Supporting Optimal Physical and Emotional Well-Being Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director Edie Ye, ASW, CA San Andreas START Coordinator Alexandra Roth, MS, MSW, CA START San Andreas Clinical Director Emaya Anbalagan, MD, CA START San Andreas Medical Director |
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Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy |
Embedding START Programs via Policy or Legislative Action Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS Additional panelists TBD |
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Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention & Intervention Through Connection |
Using Collaborative Goal Development to Positively Impact Resource Center Outcomes Alyse Scura, MEd, NCSS Project Manager Robert Scholz, MS, LCMHC, NCSS Director of Resource Center Services Dave Gunter, BS, Tarrant County TX START Resource Center Director Joanna Battle, MBA, BA, Tarrant County TX START Resource Center Program Manager Chelsea Tussing, LCSW, NY START Triborough Clinical Director |
3:45pm-4:15pm |
Break |
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4:15pm-5:45pm |
START Research Poster Session |
Wednesday, May 3rd |
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7:00am |
Information Desk Available |
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8:00am-9:00am |
Practice Group Breakfast Sessions |
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Session 1 |
Program Directors Felicia Bates, MPH, NCSS Project Facilitator Jillaine Baker, LCSW, NCSS Associate Director of Quality Assurance |
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Session 2 |
Team Leaders Dave O’Neal, MS, LMHC, MHP, NCSS Project Facilitator Alyce Benson, LCSW, NCSS Project Facilitator |
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Session 3 |
Medical Directors Jen McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS |
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Session 4 |
Clinical Directors Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director |
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Session 5
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START Therapeutic Supports Anne LaForce, MA, NCSS Director of Therapeutic Coaching Bob Scholz, MS, NCSS Director of Resource Center Services Alyse Scura, MEd, NCSS Project Manager |
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Session 6 |
START Coordinators Networking Sara Stanton, MA, NCSS Training Content Coordinator Maya Hu-Morabito, MA, NCSS Program Development Lead |
9:15am-9:45am |
Opening Remarks & Research Poster Awards |
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9:45am-10:45am |
Keynote |
Building Connections: Strategies for Supporting Healthy, Healing Relationships Karen Harvey, PhD, Director of Training and Program Development, The Park Avenue Group |
10:45am-11:00am |
Break |
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11:00am-12:00pm |
Panel |
The Transformative Power of Connection Moderator: Karyn Harvey, PhD, Director of Training and Program Development, The Park Avenue Group Russell Lehmann, Speaker, Writer, Poet, Advocate Micah Peace-Urquilla, BA, NCSS Research and Training Assistant
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12:00pm-12:30pm |
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Closing Remarks Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director Dan Tomasulo, PhD, Psychologist, Professor, Speaker, Author |