Virtual | May 13-15, 2025
The Stories of START
This year’s SNTI theme focuses on START’s on-going journey of innovation in supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through our collective stories. Stories are the foundation of history and highlight START’s evidence-based approach to improving well-being through collaboration, training, and research. Stories help us understand ourselves and others which leads to cultural humility and respect for all identities. Stories inform us and help us make good decisions as we adapt to ever-changing systems. Stories allow us to share our values and work together toward a shared vision. And finally, stories can be a tool of social change when we work as a community to bring about inclusion and belonging for all. Everybody has a story - so this year, come to SNTI prepared to listen, learn, and share the stories of START.
Sponsors
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Registration
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Content Strands
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 prestation 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
Important Dates
Friday, November 15, 2024 - Proposals due
Monday, December 9, 2024 - Presenters notified of status of proposal
Friday, December 13, 2024 - Selected presenters confirm attendance
Call for Proposals
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.
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 no later than end of day Wednesday, November 15, 2024. The portal will close at midnight Eastern Standard Time.
- Review this website entirely
- Download and prepare your responses using the guide for your proposal
- Fill out this Qualtrics link using the responses from your guide
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 & 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.
Continuing Education
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Schedule
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Awards
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