2023 START National Training Institute

• Ashley Fleming, Down Home Ranch (Austin, TX)

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

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

• Joan Beasley, PhD, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH

• This keynote presentation will explore the history and evolution of the START model, a 35-year-old evidence-based practice. Dr. Beasley will take attendees on a journey back to the 1980’s when START was first conceptualized and travel through the decades to describe the significant developments that have contributed to the present-day START model. She will review the essential elements that have contributed to the foundation of the model. This retrospective journey will illustrate what makes the START model evidence-based and highlight key factors and partners that have contributed to the success of START over the past three and a half decades.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Describe three (3) obstacles to effective service delivery that led to the development of the START model.
    • Identify at least three (3) outcomes of the model that contributed to its impact.
    • Describe at least three (3) significant developments that contributed to the present-day START model.

Plenary: Strength Activation

• Dan Tomasulo, PhD, TEP, MFA, MAPP, psychologist, writer, & professor. Academic Director & Core Faculty, Spirituality Mind Body Institute, Teachers College, Columbia University

• This interactive plenary presentation will provide a history and description of character strengths, an overview of research on the over and under-use of strengths and their relationship to the DSM. At the core of this presentation will be the introduction of Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) to identify strengths in the moment. This fuses dispositional mindfulness with character strengths in a new way- a sampling of MBSP research will also be shared. This presentation will offer multiple opportunities for experiential exercises.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Describe the history of character strengths and their impact on the science of psychology.
    • Identify, explain, and use their signature strengths to assist in the amelioration of obstacles in their professional life.
    • Explain and demonstrate the use of Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) to enhance dispositional mindfulness while identifying character strengths.

Breakout Sessions
Total CEs: Attendees can choose from one of the following breakout sessions and earn 1.5 CEs:

• Content Strand: Strength-Based Approaches, Inclusion, Community Connection
  Session A1: Application of the Convergence of Cultural Contexts Framework in START, presented by:
  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
  • When working within the IDD-MH space it is necessary to recognize and understand the role of culture within the lives of persons with IDD-MH, their families, the communities in which they live, and systems that support them. This presentation will provide an overview of the Convergence of Cultural Contexts Framework and its application within the START Network to advance cultural and linguistic competence.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Define culture and cultural diversity.
    • Identify cultural influences on beliefs and practices related to IDD-MH
    • Describe the core tenets of the Convergence of Cultural Contexts Framework.
    • Utilize the framework as a lens to build connections and support persons with IDD-MH and their families to navigate complex systems of supports and services.
• Content Strand: Integrated Health & Wellbeing
  Session B1: Integrated mental health treatment guidelines for Prescribers in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, presented by:
  Andrea Caoili, LCSW, Director of Quality Assurance & Research, NCSS;
  Joan Beasley, PhD, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH;
  Jennifer McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS;
  Micah Peace Urquilla, BA, NCSS Research and Training Assistant
  • Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities experience significant health inequities in medical and psychiatric care. Few prescribers receive guidance on the unique needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health service experiences (IDD-MH). The Integrated Mental Health Treatment Guidelines for Prescribers in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, funded with a grant from the WITH Foundation, was developed in 2020 in response to the need for more information to improve practices in the mental health system. This presentation will provide an overview of the Guidelines and describe the development process which included focus groups, peer review, evaluation and revision, and dissemination. Treatment recipients, families, and prescribers were integral partners in the development of effective guidelines, and to assure prescribers are made aware of the impact that medical and psychosocial factors have on emotional well-being.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Recognize that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and co-occurring mental health (MH) needs experience gaps in healthcare services more often than the general population.
    • Identify a specific resource aimed toward holistic, interdisciplinary, integrated care approaches that can address several issues that lead to mental healthcare disparities.
    • Discuss best practices in caring for an individual with comorbid IDD and mental health diagnoses.
• Content Strand: Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy
  Session C1: Doing it For the Clicks: Storytelling Through Statistics, presented by:
  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
  • Instructional Level: Intermediate
    This fun and interactive session will focus on the START stories told through SIRS data. A formal presentation will define data, including both qualitative and quantitative data sets. Presenters will then explore how to translate and use data to tell stories and reflect the work of START, as well as the importance of clear and quality data interpretation. Attendees will participate in exercises to practice using SIRS data to inform their work and share their outcomes with others.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Utilize quantitative information from the SIRS database to explore qualitative experiences.
    • Identify opportunities for START practitioners to use SIRS data to reflect outcomes associated with START work.
    • Create a plan for how SIRS data can be used to inform clinical work at the individual/program level.
• Content Strand: Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention & Intervention Through Connection
  Session D1: Structural Systemic Approaches used in Crisis Intervention, presented by:
  Jillaine Baker, MSW, LCSW, NCSS Associate Director of Quality Assurance;
  Alyce Benson, MSW, LCSW, NCSS Associate Project Facilitator;
  Russell Lehmann, Speaker, Writer, Poet, Advocate
  • This session will explore systemic engagement regarding its role in crisis response. Integrating the lens of personal lived experiences, the speakers will discuss the importance of various system partners in successful crisis prevention and intervention. This session will also provide multiple effective strategies for connecting with system partners.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Discuss systemic engagement within the context of the START model.
    • Describe the importance of systemic engagement in successful crisis prevention and intervention.
    • Demonstrate three (3) effective strategies for connecting with system partners.

Breakout Sessions
Total CEs: Attendees can choose from one of the following breakout sessions and earn 1.5 CEs:

• Content Strand: Strength-Based Approaches, Inclusion, Community Connection
  Session A2:  Let’s Talk Brass Tacks: Translating START Principles into Effective Facilitation Strategies, presented by:
  Val Tetreault, MAPP, NH START Program Director;
  Beverly Richardson, MEd, NH START Clinical Team Lead;
  Kristal Garcia, LMSW, NCSS Program Development Lead
  • Are you are a newly certified START Coordinator and are now wondering “How do I apply what I’ve learned? How do I put the START tools into practice?” Are you a seasoned coordinator struggling with effective meeting facilitation? This workshop is designed to prepare you to conduct engaging outreach meetings, to employ START tools in a way that fosters collaboration and growth and promote PERMA-V across the system. We will use the 3 A’s of the START model to build the foundation of your approach to meeting facilitation. You will take home a toolkit and strategies to enhance your START practice.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Create a meeting agenda and presence that promotes meaningful dialogue and an atmosphere of collaboration.
    • Utilize START principles and START tools to build engagement and foster the advancement of agreed-upon goals.
    • Demonstrate how strength-spotting and PERMA-V concepts can be used as a roadmap to wellness and growth (on both individual and team levels).
• Content Strand: Integrated Health & Wellbeing
  Session B2: “I’m Not Psychotic!”: Recognizing and Responding to Trauma-Based Dissociation, presented by:
  Rémy Jodrey Flores, 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
  • Dissociation is a powerful protective mechanism for coping with overwhelming situations. This presentation will introduce learners to the brain’s limitless creativity in using dissociation to survive childhood trauma. The session will focus on defining complex dissociation and how to recognize signs of complex dissociative disorders in individuals with IDD, while differentiating these signs from psychotic symptoms. Presenters will cite de-identified examples from NC START Therapeutic Coaching to bring awareness to the prevalence of trauma-based dissociation among START recipients and will discuss the harms caused by misdiagnosis and psychopharmacological overprescribing. Participants will also leave with knowledge of three evidence-based dissociation screeners that can be adapted for use this population.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • List at least three (3) indicators of complex dissociation in individuals with IDD.
    • Explain the key differences between psychotic symptoms and dissociative symptoms.
    • Describe at least two (2) harmful impacts of overprescribing antipsychotics for individuals with IDD and dissociation.
• Content Strand: Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy
  Session C2: Giving a Voice to START Recipients: The Person Experiences Interview Survey (PEIS), presented by:
  Jessica Kramer, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Dept of OT, Univ. of Florida;
  Janie Poncelet, MSW, LCSW, NCSS Research Assistant;
  Micah Peace Urquilla, BA, NCSS Research and Training Assistant;
  • START has long used the Family Experiences Interview Schedule (FEIS) as a central component of the intake and ongoing assessment process. Adapted from the FEIS, the Person Experiences Interview Survey (PEIS) was developed to ensure the perspectives of START recipients inform START practices. This presentation will highlight the value of including the voices of START recipients, specifically regarding their mental health treatment. We will describe how people with disabilities, families, and mental health providers contributed to the development of the PEIS. Participants will learn the PEIS administration procedures, and strategies to ensure accessibility for START recipients with diverse abilities. Finally, we will provide examples of how information gathered from the PEIS can be incorporated into START practices and review the timeline for adopting the PEIS into standard START practices.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Describe the value and importance of obtaining the perspectives of START recipients to gain a better understanding of their experiences with mental health services and providers.
    • Describe the collaborative process used to develop the PEIS.
    • Describe the PEIS administration process and accompanying resources.
    • Identify PEIS administration strategies to ensure accessibility for START recipients with diverse abilities.
    • Demonstrate how to incorporate information gathered from the PEIS to inform START practices.
• Content Strand: Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention & Intervention Through Connection
  Session D2: In the Moment: Crisis Response Strategies, presented by:
  Anne LaForce, MA, Director of Therapeutic Coaching;
  David O’Neal, MS, LMHC, MHP, NCSS Project Facilitator;
  Russell Lehmann, Speaker, Writer, Poet, Advocate;
  • Responding to crisis situations is a critical aspect of the START Model.  START team members provide trauma-informed, solution-based strategies during times of crisis.  These strategies are shared with community partners through collaboration to enhance the system of supports’ capacity.  This presentation will describe crisis response strategies for START teams and provide opportunities for engagement with participants.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Demonstrate the role of mindfulness in preparation for responding to crisis events.
    • Describe environmental safety considerations and how to minimize safety concerns.
    • Apply compassionate trauma informed strategies to diffuse crisis situations and leave the system with tools for continued stabilization.

START Breakfast Sessions – Best Practices & New Strategies
Total CEs: Attendees can choose from one of the following breakout sessions and earn 1.0 CE

• Session 1: Don’t Believe Everything You Think
  Nirbhay Singh, PhD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
  • Stress in daily life is often associated with believing what we think. We reinforce thoughts by paying attention to them, holding on to them, and acting on them as if they are grounded in fact even when evidence to support them is either very thin or non-existent. Participants will learn that (1) they are not their thoughts, (2) thoughts occur of their own accord, and (3) thoughts are transient. They will learn how to teach their minds to behave through simple mindfulness-based strategies of non-judgmental observation and letting go. By embodying mindfulness, we can learn to interrupt our usual automatic chain of reactions that lead to stress, frustration, and anger, which in turn lead to mental health issues. Mindfulness meditation leads to a soothing stillness which heals the body and mind, and results in peace and boundless joy.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Explain two reasons why we should not believe everything we think.
    • Demonstrate two ways of teaching our minds to behave.
    • List three (3) examples of how to use pause following a thought before acting.
    • Describe the steps for meditation on letting go of thoughts.
• Session 2: START Program Implementation Overview
  Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS
  Pam Flaherty, MEd, Executive Director, NCSS
  • This breakfast session is designed for those interested in developing START programs and will be discussion-based. The START model will be presented. Outcomes associated with START program implementation will be discussed as will components of program development, including systems analysis, designing START programs to meet local needs, and National Center for START Service’s role in development of START programs.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Describe general outcomes associated with START program implementation.
    • List potential components of START programs (coordination/clinical team, coaching, resource center).
    • Identify next steps in potential START program development.
• Session 3: DSM 5-TR Updates, Use of DM-ID 2 & Prescriber’s Guide
  Jen McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS
  • This session will highlight updates to the DSM-5-TR, the use of the DM-ID 2, which focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, and the role of the IDD-MH Prescriber’s Guidelines in aiding physicians in making informed decisions.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Describe the updates and changes in the DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision).
    • Utilize the DM-ID 2 (Diagnostic Manual for Intellectual Disability) when evaluating and diagnosing mental health needs in individuals with intellectual disabilities.
    • Describe the Prescriber's Guide for Psychotropics and its role in providing information on the safe and effective use of psychotropic medications.
• Session 4: Evaluation of Telehealth Services on Mental Health Outcomes for People with IDD
  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;
  Joan Beasley, PhD, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH;
  Luke Kalb, PhD, Chair, National Research Consortium in IDD-MH, Assistant Professor, Kennedy Krieger Institute Johns Hopkins;
  Tawara Goode, MA, Director, Georgetown University Center for Child Development, National Center for Cultural Competence;
  Micah Peace Urquilla, Research and Training Associate, NCSS
  • This session will provide an update about the study titled: Evaluation of Telehealth Services on Mental Health Outcomes for People with IDD. It is recommended that START programs involved in the study attend this session. An overview and update on the project and next steps will be discussed.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Describe the methods utilized within this study.
    • Explain the role of START team members in the study.
    • Describe the next steps for the implementation of the study protocols.
• Session 5: Choose Your Own PERMA Adventure
  Barb Drotos, LICSW, NH START Clinical Director
  Beth Grosso, MSW, NCSS Director of Training & Professional Development
  • PERMA can be life changing! We know this when we engage in our START work, but do we apply this to ourselves and our lives? Join us for an in depth look at PERMA and start a journey that can bring you joy along with increased mental and physical health. This workshop will be fun and interactive. You will leave refreshed and hopeful as you PERMA your way toward health and happiness.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Define the meaning of PERMA.
    • Describe the importance of applying PERMA to their own lives as much as applying it to individuals, families, and communities where they work.
    • Develop a draft personal PERMA plan that participants can use in their own lives.

• 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 Beasley, PhD, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH
• Micah Peace Urquilla, BA, NCSS Research and Training Assistant

Total CEs: 1.0
This moderated panel will explore the concept of inclusion and offer viewpoints from policy, cultural, developmental, and first-person experiences. The panel will also highlight how we can work together to create opportunities to promote and achieve health equity for people with IDD-MH through inclusion and belonging.

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Olmstead decision.
• Differentiate between at least three (3) definitions of inclusion from different sources.
• Describe at least three (3) examples of how the concept of inclusion has an impact on promoting health equity.
• Describe at least three (3) lessons learned that can help create a better future.

• Andrea Caoili, LCSW, Director of Quality Assurance & Research, NCSS
• Joan Beasley, PhD, Research Professor, Director, National Research Consortium on IDD-MH
• Jessica Kramer, PhD, Associate Professor, Dept of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida
• Luke Kalb, PhD, Chair, National Research Consortium in IDD-MH, Assistant Professor, Kennedy Krieger Institute Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Total CEs: 1.0
Recent research will be shared by the National Center for START Services Research Committee and partners about the work being done to improve the wellbeing of persons with IDD, their families, and communities. The National Center for START Services Research Committee is made up of START experts, researchers, policy experts, and persons with IDD and mental health service experiences.

Topics that will be covered in this presentation include:

• Telehealth information and communication technology access for family caregivers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs
• An evaluation of a tool to assess PERMA among individuals with IDD/ASD
• Outcomes associated with a training program for healthcare providers focused on the mental health aspects of IDD

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the research being conducted by the National Center for START Services Research Committee
• Identify strategies for inclusive research practices involving persons with IDD-MH
• Identify implications for training, practice, and policy related to the community-based services and supports for persons with IDD-MH and their families.

Breakout Sessions
Total CEs: Attendees can choose from one of the following breakout sessions and earn 1.5 CEs:

• Content Strand: Strength-Based Approaches, Inclusion, Community Connection
  Session A3:  Short Informal Mindfulness-Based Practices for Use in Daily Life
  Nirbhay Singh, PhD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
  • Daily hassles are ubiquitous. Our response to them varies depending on the nature of the interaction we are having, either internally with ourselves or externally with others. When daily hassles add up and become burdensome, we find ways of coping with them, often in ways that we later regret. This presentation will include experiential strategies for dealing with daily hassles that anyone can use effectively. Initially, use of these strategies will result in small positive changes but, if used consistently, these small changes will grow exponentially to make your life flow with ease, joy, and less suffering. In this session, participants can sample strategies such as Soles of the Feet, Patience/Pause, RAIN, STOP, Surfing the Urge, SOBER, and others.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Use the Soles of the Feet meditation.
    • Describe the Patience/Pause strategy.
    • Demonstrate the RAIN strategy.
• Content Strand: Integrated Health & Wellbeing
  Session B3: 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
  • This talk aims to educate attendees about the health disparities faced by individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and how they can be addressed. It will cover the major health disparities, best practices for addressing these disparities, and interventions and resources. Attendees will also learn about the importance of culturally competent care, advocacy, and policy change in addressing health disparities for individuals with IDD. The goal of this talk is to empower attendees to be active agents of change in promoting health and wellness for individuals with IDD.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Identify the major health disparities faced by individuals with IDD and how they are different from the general population.
    • Describe at least two (2) practices for addressing health disparities for individuals with IDD, including the role of START coordinators, community providers and organizations, and policy makers.
    • Explain the importance of advocacy in addressing health disparities for individuals with IDD.
• Content Strand: Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy
  Session C3: Lessons Learned about START Telehealth Services and Supports
  Andrea Caoili, LCSW, Director of Quality Assurance & Research, NCSS
  Luke Kalb, PhD, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Kennedy Krieger Institute
  Jessica Kramer, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Dept of OT, Univ. of Florida
  Janie Poncelet, MSW, LCSW, Research Assistant
  • This session will focus on outcomes from a qualitative study about START telehealth services. Findings from focus groups and interviews (n=87) will be provided. Participants included START staff, START service users, and family caregivers. Lessons learned and guidelines for START telehealth practices will be provided.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Explain the telehealth preferences of different stakeholder groups.
    • Describe lessons learned about START telehealth and their practice implications.
    • Apply lessons learned to their work.
• Content Strand: Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention & Intervention Through Connection
  Session D3: Understanding and Responding to Suicidality in People with IDD-MH
  Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director
  Anne LaForce, MA, Director of Therapeutic Coaching
  • Research on suicidality in people with IDD-MH is in the early stages, yet we are beginning to understand that the risk may be higher than has historically been acknowledged. Understanding the characteristics and vulnerabilities of IDD-MH and how these may impact the risk factors for suicide is critical. This presentation will describe current research, what we know about risk factors, and potential strategies and tools for prevention and intervention.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Describe key findings of current research in suicidality in IDD.
    • Identify unique risk factors specific to IDD.
    • Discuss potential strategies for identification of risk prevention.

Break

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

Breakout Sessions
Total CEs: Attendees can choose from one of the following breakout sessions and earn 1.5 CEs:

• Content Strand: Strength-Based Approaches, Inclusion, Community Connection
  Session A4:  Hunting the Good – Strengths Spotting in Practice
  Dan Tomasulo, PhD, TEP, MFA, MAPP, psychologist, writer, & professor. Academic Director & Core Faculty, Spirituality Mind Body Institute, Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Character Strengths are the positive parts of your personality that impact how you think, feel, and behave. Scientists have identified 24-character strengths that you have the capacity to express (VIA Institute on Character, 2023). Effective utilization of character strengths has been proven to lead to increased wellbeing. This hands-on presentation will demonstrate dynamic techniques (such as ‘resource priming’) to spot and cultivate character strengths in yourself, people with IDD-MH you support and their families.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Utilize methods to activate resource priming for character strengths.
    • Identify at least three (3) optimal ways to engage resource activation.
    • Demonstrate the use of dramatic role-playing for highlighting and enhancing character strengths for sustainable use.
• Content Strand: Integrated Health & Wellbeing
  Session B4: The Gut-Brain Axis: Improving Gut Health in Supporting Optimal Physical and Emotional Well-Being
  Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS;
  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
  • The human gut microbiome is comprised of a vast collection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The makeup of the gut microbiome influences human physical and emotional health via the gut-brain axis. A flourishing gut microbiome contributes to better health and general well-being. Individuals who experience Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities tend to have poorer gut health, leading to decreased physical well-being, (e.g., pervasive gastrointestinal [GI] distress) and emotional well-being (e.g., irritability). This presentation will provide psychoeducation on the gut-brain axis, relevant data from several CA START program recipients, and a variety of accessible and relevant intervention strategies.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Demonstrate the importance of the gut-brain-axis intersection between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system, as well as its influence on physical health, emotional health, and general well-being, especially within the IDD community.
    • Describe the significant impact various dietary patterns have on one’s emotional and behavioral expression as well as the barriers to changing those patterns for anyone, especially those within the IDD community.
    • Design basic and accessible action steps that START team members across the country can share with the systems they support.
• Content Strand: Evidence-Informed Practices & Policy
  Session C4: What is the Evidence Behind START Therapeutic Coaching Strategies?
  Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director;
  Anne LaForce, MA, Director of Therapeutic Coaching
  • Coaching is an evidence-based approach designed to strengthen and build capacity of the person receiving coaching (often a family member/caregiver along with the START enrollees) and is an integral aspect of the work of START teams. START Coaching utilizes several strategies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapeutic Strategies, Positive Psychology Strategies, Motivational Interviewing Strategies, Adaptive Strategies, and Expressive Therapeutic Strategies. These strategies are derived from evidence-based practices and approaches. This session will describe the evidence behind each of these approaches, provide examples of strategies within the approaches, and offer adaptations to meet individual needs.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Explain evidence-based practices that inform START coaching practices and strategies.
    • Identify the therapeutic strategies utilized in START therapeutic coaching.
    • Discuss adaptations to strategies that address individual needs.
• Content Strand: Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention & Intervention Through Connection
  Session D4: Using Collaborative Goal Development to Positively Impact Resource Center Outcomes
  Alyse Scura, MA, EdM, LMHC, 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, BSHS, Tarrant County TX START Resource Center Program Manager
  Chelsea Tussing-Shepherd, LCSW, NY START Triborough Clinical Director
  • Resource Centers are one part of START therapeutic supports available, being implemented in several START programs nationally.  This presentation will describe how a resource center can be used as a tool to support an individual towards further development of PERMA.This presentation will offer generalizable strategies for collaborative goal development that takes into account a bio-psycho-social conceptualization, leading to improved understanding of the person referred and resulting in positive outcomes.
  • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
    • Describe reasons why it is important to develop person-centered goals and objectives.
    • Identify the steps of successful development of goals and objectives.
    • Develop an understanding of how resource center supports enhance START model principles and approaches.
    • Analyze information learned from the “guest” presentations into participants’ own practice.

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 (CME Eligible)
  • Jen McLaren, MD, Chief Medical Advisor, NCSS
  • Karen Weigle, PhD, Associate Director, NCSS
  • Total CMEs: 1.0
    • The Breakfast Session for Medical Directors is a meeting for START medical directors to discuss important topics and share information and insights relevant to their roles and responsibilities as medical directors.
    • At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
      • Describe reasons why it is important to develop person-centered goals and objectives.
      • Identify the steps of successful development of goals and objectives.
      • Develop an understanding of how resource center supports enhance START model principles and approaches.
      • Analyze information learned from the “guest” presentations into participants’ own practice.
• Session 4: Clinical Directors
  • Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director
• Session 5: START Therapeutic Supports
  • Anne LaForce, MA, NCSS Director of Therapeutic Coaching
  • Bob Scholz, MS, NCSS Director of Resource Center Services
  • Alyse Scura, MA, EdM, LMHC, NCSS Project Manager
• Session 6: START Coordinators Networking
  • Sara Stanton, MA, NCSS Training Content Coordinator
  • Maya Hu-Morabito, MA, NCSS Program Development Lead

• Karyn Harvey, PhD, Director of Training and Program Development, The Park Avenue Group

Total CEs: 1.0
This presentation will explore the healing power of relationships and their role in life-long fulfillment. Research findings as well as case studies will be presented to explore strategies and supports for facilitating healthy relationships, such as the coach role of supporting staff. Additionally, the Anti-Loneliness Initiative will be described. This initiative is designed to help persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism find real connection.

• Identify two (2) factors correlated with life-long fulfillment.
• Identify the coach role of supporting staff in relationships.
• Describe the anti-loneliness initiative.

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

Total CEs: 1.0

This panel presentation, moderated by Dr. Karyn Harvey, will serve as a follow-up to her keynote topic. Two speakers with lived experience of IDD-MH will share their journeys including trials, tribulations, and successes toward meaningful connection. Speakers will identify what connection means to them and the impact it has on their daily lives. The presentation will conclude with strategies for supporting connection in the lives of people with IDD-MH.

• Describe at least three (3) challenges people with IDD-MH experience when seeking connection.
• Describe at least three (3) positive outcomes resulting from meaningful connections.
• Identify at least three (3) strategies to advocate for connections for people with IDD-MH.

• Jill Hinton, PhD, NCSS Clinical Director
• Dan Tomasulo, PhD, Psychologist, Professor, Speaker, Author