YAI California START San Andreas

Two large nonprofits from different sides of the country have joined to pilot a cutting-edge crisis support model for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), in San Jose. On July 1, YAI, a New York-based I/DD services organization, partnered with the San Andreas Regional Center (SARC), which serves a similar population in California’s South Bay and Central Coast, to launch START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment) services for people in Santa Clara County.

The START Model provides prevention and intervention services to people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and complex behavioral health needs through crisis planning and response, education, consultation and coaching.

Services are based upon a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment. The START model conceptualizes presenting problems within the context of the environment in which the person lives, works and interacts with those around them.

The goal of the START program is to build capacity through relationships across service systems in order to help people remain in their homes and communities and enhance the ability of the community to best support them.

The first of its kind in Northern California, START currently supports people with I/DD and co-occurring behavioral health conditions in 10 states. In addition to crisis response for individuals, families, and caregivers, START provides training, consultation, therapeutic services, and technical assistance to support people with I/DD who have complex behavioral needs.

START services begin in the fall 2020 and will be available to children aged six and older, adults, family members, and I/DD service providers in Santa Clara County.

“START offers crisis support, which is distinct from crisis intervention,” said Cheryl Karran, Director of YAI’s New York START program. “When people with I/DD have a behavioral crisis, traditional hospital or police interventions are often counter-productive, if not dangerous. For instance, a person with autism and schizoaffective disorder might not respond to police commands, making them vulnerable to excessive force. By contrast, START works with families and care providers surrounding the individual to address the roots of the person’s crisis and minimize future emergencies.”