START Services NJ

Crisis Prevention and Response

Providing crisis prevention and response for people (ages 21 and older) with intellectual/developmental disabilities who present with complex behavioral and mental health needs in specific New Jersey counties.

Services Include: Crisis mitigation techniques, Crisis response systems support, Clinical consultation, Education and training, Psychoeducation and Therapeutic coaching—in-home support services.

START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, & Treatment) Services NJ is a proactive, consultative program aimed to mitigate psychiatric emergency and inpatient hospitalization for people who are at-risk. Using a systemic approach, START Services NJ engages with community partners and other stakeholders to provide linkages in the community, psychoeducation, and other trainings to enhance the quality of life for the people and their systems of care.

START Services NJ is a short-term, 12-18 month program targeted for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) who have significant behavioral and/or mental health needs. START Services NJ practices are delivered by multi-disciplinary teams providing personalized, intensive, time-limited consultative services to enrolled individuals.  START Services NJ does not replace or duplicate DDD services currently offered in the community. START Services NJ is available to provide support to people living at home with their families as well as those who reside in residential programs.
START Services NJ aims to create a network better equipped to be able to respond to crisis needs by providing community-based, person-centered supports that enable a person to remain in their home or community residence. 

* For more information, please visit the National Center for START Services® | Institute on Disability

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible for START Services NJ, the referred person must be:

• 21 years of age or older
• Eligible for NJ DDD services
• A resident in one of the following NJ counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Salem.

Referrals can be submitted by attaching the completed form and emailing to NJSTARTReferral@yai.org

For more information please call the START Services NJ offices at 929.561.5689.