Tennessee Launches Teams to Support the Mental Health of People with I/DD

image: a woman with obvious disabilities with light skin and dark hair in casual attire holding a phone

(Excerpt from Press Release) The Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) has launched five teams statewide to expand support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have complex behavioral or mental health needs.  The Tennessee START Assessment and Stabilization Teams (TN START AST) is a collaboration between DIDD and the Center for START Services. The five teams will be based in Memphis, Jackson, Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville, and cover multiple counties in each region. Each team began accepting referrals in late July.

TN START AST will provide the following services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities:

  • 24/7 onsite or remote crisis response and consultation
  • On-going cross-systems crisis stabilization planning to include prevention and intervention for eligible individuals
  • Clinical consultation, education, and training
  • Establishing and maintaining formalized community partnerships and systems linkages
  • Comprehensive assessment and evaluation of support needs, existing services, and available resources.
  • Assessment and facilitation of therapeutic resource center admissions
  • Systemic analysis, consultation and support
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