2025 START National Training Institute

Registration fees help cover our virtual SNTI platform and other administrative costs. It is our goal to host an event that is affordable and accessible for all. We will need each attendee to be registered under their own name to access course content and CE certificates. We do allow group registrations but we will need each individual's information. 

• General Registration - $99 
• Group Registration (5 or more) - $89 each
• START team member discount - $69
• Students, family members, caregivers, and persons with lived experience of IDD-MH qualify for free registration. For more information, please contact ncss.training.iod@unh.edu.  

Register for SNTI 2025

Is your agency planning to send several people and looking for more ways to publicly show your commitment to our work in IDD-MH? Sponsors of the SNTI will receive several free seats and many other benefits. 

Check out our sponsors tab below for more information!

Sponsors of the SNTI can provide vital support to our work of driving systemic change in the fields of intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental health. Sponsors can promote their business or organization to thousands of professionals in the nationwide START network and connect with leaders in the field as we work together to improve the lives of persons with IDD-MH.  

A virtual SNTI means more chances to connect, greater flexibility to accommodate schedules, and a broader reach across our START network. With approximately 750 active START team members and more than 4,000 email subscribers in the wider START network, there is a ton of potential for connection! 

While our in-person events have had around 250 people, our last virtual SNTI in 2022 had more than 600 registrants representing 36 states. Participants gave it a 92% overall satisfaction rating, and 91% would recommend SNTI to others. If you are interested in sponsoring SNTI, please contact us at start.iod@unh.edu.

START Your SNTI Sponsorship!

Download 2025 SNTI Sponsorship Prospectus PDF

START Best Practices 

Segments within this content strand would focus on the application of START’s guiding principles and best practices. This might include trauma focused care, evidence-based practices, biopsychosocial, strengths-based practices, etc.  

Examples of possible topics: 

• Impactful Interventions: Demonstrating Success 
• Clinical considerations (specific diagnoses and treatment strategies) 
• Strategies for Crisis Response, Intervention, or Prevention in IDD-MH  
• Expressive Therapies (art, music, poetry, movement, etc.) 
• Supportive Story-Telling – the direct support professional role in supporting communication across settings 
• “Let’s Create a Social Story” 
• Supporting Anxiety for Persons with IDD 
• Psychological First Aid for IDD 

Systemic Engagement 

Segments within this content strand will focus on engaging with communities at a macro and mezzo level and driving change at a systems level. This might include community initiatives, systemic interventions, structural systemic approaches, etc. 

Examples of possible topics: 

• Overcoming Challenges: Lessons Learned on the Journey 
• IDD-MH Community Initiatives 
• Systems change Initiatives 
• Research, Training, and Workforce Development Initiatives 

Inclusive Practices 

Segments within this content strand will focus on the development of strategies and practices that ensure our work is inclusive for people with all levels of support needs and promote belonging. It is required that presentations in this content strand include the voice of someone with lived experience, through co-presenting or facilitation.  

Examples of possible topics: 

• Interactive Storytelling: Participant Engagement 
• Crafting Your Story: A Guide for and From People with Lived Experience 
• Importance of Accessibility and Plain Language  

Principles in Practice 

Segments within this content strand will focus on theoretical underpinnings of the START model and the foundations it was built upon. This might include positive psychology, solution focused interventions, the three A’s, etc.  

Examples of possible topics: 

• Clinical topics 
• Wellness based approaches 
• Positive psychology  
• Person and Family centered philosophy  
• Trauma informed care  

Terminology

• START Team Member: actively serving on a START Program 
• START Network Partner: affiliated with the National Center for START Services or a local START program through committees, research, training, professional development, or other involvement 
• IDD-MH: Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Needs 

General Proposal Guidelines

Proposals will be selected to ensure the 2025 SNTI offers a comprehensive, relevant, and diverse program. Proposals that clearly describe innovative and creative work, and those that integrate the voices and perspectives of people with lived experience of IDD-MH will receive the highest priority in the selection process. We believe that collaborative knowledge-sharing builds capacity at the highest level. 

• Please submit one proposal form per presenter/presentation team. 
• Please select the one content strand that best fits your proposal topic. 
• Proposals from START programs must be reviewed and approved for submission by their Clinical Director and/or Program Director which includes discussing SNTI registration at that START team member rate. 
• Your presentation should be interactive. If your proposal is chosen, you will need to identify and communicate how you will accomplish this. This could include but is not limited to; 
  • A live demonstration 
  • Service example/vignette 
  • Workshop incorporating live application  
• Each content strand has examples of topics that the 2025 SNTI planning committee has created. Submissions can address a variety of topics that correspond with the strand’s theme or use one of the examples provided.  
• All session proposals are 1 hour in length. Please note in the comment section if you believe your session needs more time. 

Proposal Review Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by members of the SNTI Content Planning Committee and peer reviewers using the following criteria: 

Relevance of Topic - Is the topic of relevance, importance, value, and/or interest to the START network? 

Connection to 2025 Theme - Does the topic reflect alignment with the 2025 SNTI theme of "The Stories of START"? 

Session Objectives Achievability - Is there alignment between the stated session objectives and the proposal description? 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, & Belonging (DEIJB) - Does the proposal show how the session will reflect or address DEIJB? This includes subject matter, people of diverse identities, and demographic characteristics. 

Quality of Submission - Does the proposal demonstrate quality, as measured by accuracy, clarity, comprehensiveness, and depth of demonstrated understanding of the topic? 

Proposal Submission Process

Proposals for the 2025 SNTI are due by Friday, November 15, 2024.

Proposals must be submitted through this link or the button below no later than end of day Wednesday, November 15, 2024. The portal will close at midnight Eastern Standard Time. 

1. Review this webpage entirely 
2. Prepare your responses using the guide below for your proposal 
3. Fill out this Qualtrics link using the responses from your guide 

Proposal Submission Guide 

Use this guide/checklist to make sure you have all your information ready before you start the Qualtrics submission.

• The category that best describes you (START Team Member, START Network Partner, Other)
• First Name
• Last Name
• Email Address
• Do you plan to have co-presenters (yes/no)
• Content Strand 
• Level of Learning (introductory, intermediate, or advanced) 
• Session/Presentation Title (20 words maximum)
• 3 Learning Objectives (see APA Behavioral Objectives guidelines)
• Session description (100 words maximum)
• Any other considerations the review committee should be aware of

Submit Proposal

Proposal Review Process 

The lead presenter will be notified via e-mail regarding the status of their proposal no later than Monday, December 9, 2024.

Presentation teams whose proposal is accepted or accepted with recommended revisions should plan to confirm their SNTI attendance no later than Friday, December 13, 2024. Details will be provided in subsequent communications. 

Proposal status notifications include: 

• Accepted 
• Accepted with recommended revisions 
• Not accepted at this time, future opportunities await 

If accepted, the presenter will be connected to a NCSS content coach.  Your NCSS Content Coach will: 

• honor your subject matter expertise; 
• offer feedback and insight based on NCSS/SNTI training standards; 
• provide timely reminders as submission deadlines draw near 

The coach is not required to co-present with you. 
 

NBCC (National Certified Counselors): 2025 START National Training Institute – The Stories of START has been approved by NBCC for NBCC credit. Sessions approved for NBCC credit are clearly identified. National Center for START Services(R) - Institute on Disability is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. NBCC Approval No. SP-4829.

All times given are in Eastern Time. 

Coming soon!