NC Start Access

The NC START program is divided into three regions (East, Central and West) and each region consists of two clinical teams and one respite home. The two clinical teams provide 24/7 crisis response and consultation as well as on-going preventative cross-systems crisis planning for eligible individuals. The crisis prevention component of NC START also involves working with the existing DD and mental health systems of care to provide technical assistance, consultation and support when working with individuals eligible for NC START. The NC START clinical teams will continue to work with referred individuals and their service/support system up to one year following a referral. Within that time the NC START team will work with the individual and their system of services and supports to systemically prepare for crises and reduce the frequency of restrictive interventions, hospital admissions and overall crisis events. The NC START regional respite homes each have two beds reserved for eligible individuals in crisis and two beds reserved for planned caregiver respite of eligible individuals* (4 beds total). Access to the respite home will be governed by the regional clinical teams and respite directors.

The NC START (North Carolina Systemic, Therapeutic Assessment, Respite and Treatment) program is exclusively available to serve adults (age 18 and above) that have a primary diagnosis of developmental disability (DD) and challenging behaviors, often with a co-occurring mental illness.

NC START does not replace mobile crisis management or first responder. Although the NC START clinical teams are available for assistance/support/consultation at any time during a crisis response, the first responder and mobile crisis teams retain their roles and responsibilities, NC START clinical teams are intended to support not replace these functions. An eligible individual will continue to access mobile crisis management via the established DMH/DD/SAS crisis service protocol. Eligible individuals will still be required to go through their clinical homes/first responders (if applicable) prior to accessing mobile crisis management. Once an eligible individual is seen by a mobile crisis management team member, that team member should contact the regional NC START program for a potential referral and telephonic/on-site assistance (if indicated). For individuals previously known to an NC START region, their clinical home providers and/or natural supports may contact NC START at any time for information, consultation and assistance deescalating individuals experiencing minor difficulties and/or crises. This assistance/availability of NC START clinical team staff is intended to help deescalate situations before the level of need becomes emergent necessitating a mobile crisis intervention.