NC START is a statewide program that offers community crisis support for persons aged 6 and older with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) with complex behavioral or mental health needs. It provides crisis prevention and intervention services through crisis response, clinical consultation, training, and therapeutic support.
NC START is organized into three regions — East, Central, and West — each with a clinical team and a resource center. The clinical team delivers 24/7 crisis response and consultation, along with ongoing cross-systems crisis prevention and intervention planning for eligible persons. The crisis prevention component includes collaboration with existing IDD and mental health systems of care to offer technical assistance, consultation, and support for persons eligible for NC START. The program also provides training and education on topics related to the care and treatment of persons with IDD-MH, as requested and when available.
The NC START clinical team continues to support referred persons and their service/support network to achieve sustained stabilization for both the person and their system of care. This process typically takes one year from the start of service. During this period, the NC START team works with the person and their support system to proactively prepare for crises, reduce the need for restrictive interventions, minimize hospital admissions, and decrease the overall frequency of crisis events.
Each NC START Team region also offers START Therapeutic Coaching for persons enrolled in the program. This coaching service is implemented in community-based settings, such as homes, schools, and day programs. It can be provided on a planned or emergency basis, depending on the person's needs. The coaching process is done in collaboration with another member of the person’s support team to help apply learned techniques. START Therapeutic Coaching is a short-term, goal-focused service and does not replace other services in the system.
Additionally, NC START has regional therapeutic resource centers that house four beds — two reserved for persons in crisis and two for planned crisis prevention. START Coordinators serve as the central point of access to all START services, including visits to the therapeutic resource centers.
NC START West Statesville: Crisis & Referrals: 888-974-2937
NC START Central Durham: Crisis & Referrals: 919-865-8730
NC START East New Bern: Crisis & Referral: 888-962-3782
