START professional development trainings are evidence-informed and based on START principles and approaches. Trainings are regularly reviewed, evaluated, and revised to ensure that methods, practices, and tools are valid and reliable.
For additional time-limited training and professional development opportunities, please visit the National Center for START Services™ (NCSS) website.
The National Center for START Services’ Mental Health Aspects of Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (MHIDD) Professional Development Series is designed to build expertise in professionals through evidence-based instruction and best practices. These courses are targeted to specific roles within human service delivery to enhance the ability to provide effective services for people with IDD and mental health needs. The MHIDD Professional Development Series course instruction is provided by experts in the field from both professional and lived experience perspectives. Target audience for current virtual course offerings: Mobile Crisis Responders, Care Coordinators/Managers, and Direct Support Professionals. Click on the buttons on the right to learn more about each course on the NCSS website.
The START National Online Training Series on the Mental Health Aspects of IDD is designed to build capacity of IDD-MH professionals by providing innovative, evidence-based online training. Presentations are pre-recorded and released once a month, September through April. Presentations are typically 50-60 minutes in length. A live Q&A session with each month’s presenter is held on the 3rd Friday of the month from 1-2pm eastern/10-11am pacific. NCSS often offers additional Special Presentations to the START Network as part of their subscription to the Training Series.
The START National Training Institute (SNTI) is an annual in-person training event that brings together hundreds of START team members, self advocates, families, and national & international leaders in the field of MH/IDD to share expertise, tools, and best practices. The training spans two and a half days and features keynote addresses, panel discussions, breakout sessions, a judged research poster session & professional networking event, and other special events & presentations. The next SNTI will take place in Austin Texas from May 1-3, 2023.
