New Jersey has started a community crisis prevention and intervention program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health needs. START Services NJ began in 11 counties, mostly in central and southern New Jersey, under a $3.2 million contract with the provider YAI. New Jersey Human Services announced the launch in December 2025.
How START works
START, a nationally used model, offers 24/7 crisis response, clinical consultation, therapeutic coaching and training for a person's support network, aiming to reduce emergency room visits, hospital stays and police involvement. The 12- to 18-month program serves people in Division of Developmental Disabilities services with complex needs, whether they live with family, on their own or in residential programs, and adds to existing services rather than replacing them.
Why this matters for providers and DSPs
Residential staff and DSPs are often the first people on the scene when someone they support is in crisis. START's coaching and consultation can give teams practical strategies and backup, so providers in the covered counties should learn how to connect people with complex needs to it.