Presenters: Dr. Stephanie Parker, Alyssa Smith, Meleane Tapa
All NOTS live Q&A events are held via Zoom from 1:00-2:00 ET / 12:00-1:00 CT / 11:00-12:00 MT / 10:00-11:00 PT.
Description: This session will explore the foundation and results of the Caregiver Hope Project. Can hope be intentionally cultivated among caregivers of people with IDD? We developed and implemented an eight-week, strengths-based curriculum that walked participants through a scaffolded experience from gratitude, joy and kindness towards hope and the creation of individualized Personal Hope Plans. Through quantitative measures, qualitative data, and a four-month follow-up, we explore changes in hope and participants’ experience of the intervention. The project offers an opportunity to consider how intentionally cultivating positive emotions, while maintaining space for difficult emotions to coexist, may contribute to caregiver well-being.
Dr. Stephanie Parker
Dr. Stephanie Parker is physician originally from Mexico City who worked in family medicine for five years before moving toward a strength-based approach of care. She is now Clinical Director at Golden Gate START; she brings a strength-based, trauma-informed approach to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her background in medicine gives her a unique biopsychosocial lens while challenging traditional deficit-based approaches to care.
In addition to her role at START, Dr. Parker has worked closely with immigrant communities providing mental health support grounded in cultural competency.
In 2024, she led this two-year project examining the relationship between sleep and biopsychosocial wellbeing, combining data analysis in the first year with the award-winning strategies in the second year. In 2026, she led the winning project that developed a curriculum for caregivers to increase hope.
Dr. Parker is deeply committed to expanding access to compassionate, person-centered care.
Alyssa Smith
Alyssa Smith serves as the Clinical Team Lead at START Services, where she leads a team of START Coordinators and oversees support services for individuals enrolled in the program. She has been part of the START program for the past three years and brings more than 10 years of experience partnering with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across a variety of settings, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, as an inclusive education teacher, and within community-based support programs. Alyssa is passionate about advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging for people with disabilities. She is dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve lasting stability through collaborative, person-centered supports that empower people to thrive in their communities.
Meleane Tapa
Meleane Tapa is a Therapeutic Coach with START who is passionate about empowering individuals to build independence, strengthen self-advocacy skills, and achieve meaningful personal goals. She provides strength-based, person-centered support tailored to each individual's unique needs and strengths. Meleane collaborates with individuals, families, and interdisciplinary teams to promote resilience, community inclusion, and improved quality of life. Her professional interests include mental health, community-based practice, and advancing equitable access to supportive services. She is committed to helping individuals recognize their potential, build confidence, and thrive in their communities.
This event is part of the National Online Training Series and is available by subscription from the National Center for START Services®. Each month, the NOTS includes a pre-recorded presentation and a live Q&A session with presenters, available to subscribers only. You must be subscribed to our list to receive the recording and access the live Q&A.
How to subscribe: Current START programs are automatically subscribed. Many individuals can access the NOTS for free by partnering with their local START program. If you or your agency are interested in subscribing, please fill out this training interest survey. A member of our training department will connect with you for next steps.
Accommodation Requests: It is our goal to make the NOTS live Q&A accessible for all. CART services will be provided for every live Q&A and does not require an accommodation request. Should you have additional accommodation requests, please complete this form and we will make every reasonable effort to meet that request. Someone from NCSS will contact you about the status of your request.
Disclaimer: Speakers and presenters participating in sessions are encouraged to express their findings, experiences, and conclusions on specific topics. They are selected for their areas of expertise and personal and professional knowledge. Therefore, points of view or opinions of our speakers and presenters do not officially represent the National Center for START Services®, the Institute on Disability, or the University of New Hampshire.
