2023 START National Training Institute

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In-Person

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


2023 START National Training Institute graphic featuring a square graphic of the Austin Texas cityscape, the theme "building connections and activating strengths: 35 years of START" and the dates May 1 to 3, 2023

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.

Register for SNTI 2023

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:

  1. Demonstrate at least three (3) practices that build connections and activate strengths for people with IDD-MH and their families

  2. Identify at least three (3) resources found within research, policies and practices that promote building connections and activating strengths

  3. 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

7:00am

Check-In for SNTI Registrants/Information Desk Available

7:00am-7:45am

Morning Meditation/Chair Yoga

Ashley FlemingDown Home Ranch (Austin, TX)

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
Nirbhay Singh, PhD, BCBA-D, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at the Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University

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

 

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
Jennifer McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS

12:30pm-2:00pm

Lunch

2:00pm-3:30pm

Content Strand

Breakout Session (topics listed below, titles may change)

 

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
Beth Grosso, MSW, NCSS Director of Training & Professional Development

 

Integrated Health & Wellbeing

 

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
Jennifer McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS
Micah Peace-Urquilla, BA, NCSS Research and Training Assistant

 

Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy

 

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

 

Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention & Intervention Through Connection

 

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

 

3:30pm-3:45pm

Break

3:45pm-5:15pm

Content Strand

Breakout Session (topics listed below, titles may change)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

5:30pm-6:00pm

Monday Meet-Up on Patio

Tuesday, May 2nd

7:00am-8:00am

Check-in for SNTI Registrants/Information Desk Available

7:15am-8:15am

START Breakfast Sessions – Best Practices & New Strategies

 

Session 1

START Program Sustainability

Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director

 

Session 2

START Program Implementation Overview

Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS

Pam Flaherty, MEd, Executive Director, NCSS

 

Session 3

DSM 5-TR Updates, Use of DM-ID 2 & Prescriber’s Guide

Jen McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS

 

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

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

11:00am-12:30pm

Content Strand

Breakout Session

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

12:30-12:45pm

Break

 

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

2:15pm-3:45pm

Content Strand

Breakout Session

 

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

 

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

 

Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy

Embedding START Programs via Policy or Legislative Action

Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS

Additional panelists TBD

 

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

4:15pm-5:45pm

START Research Poster Session

Wednesday, May 3rd

7:00am

Information Desk Available

8:00am-9:00am

Practice Group Breakfast Sessions

 

Session 1

Program Directors

Felicia Bates, MPH, NCSS Project Facilitator

Jillaine Baker, LCSW, NCSS Associate Director of Quality Assurance

 

Session 2

Team Leaders

Dave O’Neal, MS, LMHC, MHP, NCSS Project Facilitator

Alyce Benson, LCSW, NCSS Project Facilitator

 

Session 3

Medical Directors

Jen McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS

Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS

 

Session 4

Clinical Directors

Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director

 

Session 5

 

START Therapeutic Supports

Anne LaForce, MA, NCSS Director of Therapeutic Coaching

Bob ScholzMS, NCSS Director of Resource Center Services

Alyse Scura, MEd, NCSS Project Manager

 

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

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

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

 

12:00pm-12:30pm

 

Closing Remarks

Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director

Dan Tomasulo, PhD, Psychologist, Professor, Speaker, Author