New Jersey’s development of the START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment) program is similar to efforts made in other states including California, New York and North Carolina. Additionally, the National Center for START Services, an initiative of the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, will serve as a collaborative partner in the development of these programs, according to the state Department of Human Services.
North Carolina’s model is a statewide community crisis prevention and intervention program for people ages 6 and up with complex behavioral or mental health needs, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The program is intended to be a short-term service, lasting from 12 to 18 months depending on the support needs of each person.
“START is recognized for its person-centered, solutions-focused approach that employs positive psychology and other evidence-based practices to address mental health conditions that are too often misdiagnosed, under-diagnosed or undiagnosed among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Sarah Adelman, the commissioner of the state Department of Human Services, said in a statement.
Positive psychology looks for a person’s strengths and aims to promote resiliency, rather than focusing on their negative or challenging behaviors, according to Dr. Wendy Aita, the co-director of the Rowan-Virtua Regional Integrated Special Needs (RISN) Center who leads the behavioral health services there.
This approach is also less focused on medication and is “much different” than a more medical model or one that is more punitive in looking at challenging behaviors or mental health conditions, according to Aita.
Read more at NJSpotlightnews.org.
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