Assessment and Stabilization Teams

Evidence Step: Outcomes

Department: Disability and Aging

Priority Area: Strong Families and Communities

Program Description

The Tennessee START Assessment & Stabilization Teams (TN START) is a statewide mental health service for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have complex behavioral or mental health needs (MH-IDD). The START model is a comprehensive model of service supports for community-based crisis prevention and intervention that optimizes independence, treatment, and community living for individuals with IDD and behavioral health needs. TN START provides prevention and stabilization through 24/7 in-person crisis response, ongoing cross-systems crisis stabilization planning, training and education, consultation and systemic analysis, and formalized partnerships with other systemic entities.

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Details

Program Demographic: Children, Adolescents / Young Adults, Adults, Persons with Disability

Delivery Setting: Home, Other Community Setting, School

Current Participants: 426

Outcomes

Percent of Emergency Crisis Response Services being resolved and maintained in a Community Setting

2025: 82%

2024: 78%

2023: 80%

Outputs

Number of Emergency Crisis Response Services provided for those enrolled

2025: 825

2024: 442

2022: 298

Number of enrolled and active cases

2025: 426

2024: 289

2022: 117

Number of Signed Partnership Agreements, disaggregated by type

2025: 33

2024: 29

2022: 21

Number of Systemic Education, Training and Consultation events provided

2025: 76

2024: 42

2022: 82

Logic Model

If we provide community-based crisis prevention and intervention including 24/7 in-person crisis response, ongoing cross-systems crisis stabilization planning, training and education, and establishing formalized partnerships, then we will increase stabilization of individuals with MH-IDD in a community setting and decrease the need for higher levels of intervention and, in doing so, increase long-term stabilization, independence, treatment, and community living for these individuals.