Mission
The National Center for START Services® improves the lives of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental health needs and their families through fidelity to the START model with exemplary services and supports that emphasize local, person-centered, positive, multidisciplinary, cost-effective, and evidence-informed practices.
Values
- Service recipients and their families are our most valued partners.
- Capacity building begins with positive engagement - whether it is one person or a large system. We emphasize building upon abilities in each person and their system of support.
- Help begins with providing oxygen - helping to resolve an immediate destabilizing situation allows for hope and change going forward.
- Networking - increases depth of knowledge and capacity to provide services for all.
- We must all be open to learning and teaching - through continuous assessment of outcomes along with educational opportunities with easily accessible local, regional, statewide, and national forums, study groups, and training materials.
- Team effort - we work as a team to create opportunities. This includes mutual respect that allows for team input to help the program continue to improve and change.
- Community – develop and maintain fellowship with others that share common attitudes, values, interests, and goals.
- Fidelity – provide training and consultation to support the integrity of activities that make the START Model effective and directly impact success and desired outcomes.
- Humanity – conduct all activities with compassion, understanding, and kindness.
Videos
This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the START model, including its history, mission and values, approaches, and current implementation across the United States.
The START Film, produced by award-winning documentary filmmaker Dan Habib and the Center for START Services, captures the unique and groundbreaking practices and philosophies of the START model. START’s impact is viewed through the perspectives of START clients, family members, and local service providers in Fort Worth, Texas, New York City, and Durham, North Carolina.
