NC START (Systematic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Respite and Treatment) is an NC DHHS program available to both children and adults with developmental disabilities and a co-occurring mental illness.  You can follow the links below for more information.  NC START for children is newly available in NC as of 2016.  Both children and adults may be placed on waiting lists for services.

The NC START program is divided into three regions (East, Central and West) and each region consists of a clinical team and a respite home. The clinical team (consisting of four START Coordinators) provides 24/7 crisis response and consultation, as well as on-going preventative cross-systems crisis prevention and intervention planning for eligible individuals. The crisis prevention component of NC START also involves working with the existing I/DD and mental health systems of care to provide technical assistance, consultation and support when working with individuals eligible for NC START. NC START also provides training and education on topics pertaining to care and treatment for individuals with I/DD, when requested and available.

The NC START clinical team will continue to work with referred individuals and their service/support system to reach sustained stabilization for the individual and their system of care, which generally takes one year from the start of the service. Within that time, the NC START team will work with the individual and their system of services and supports to systematically prepare for crises and reduce the frequency of restrictive interventions, hospital admissions and overall crisis events.

The NC START regional therapeutic respite homes (not yet available for children) each have two beds reserved for eligible individuals in crisis and two beds reserved for planned crisis prevention-eligible individuals* (4 beds total). START Coordinators are the conduit for access to all START services, including therapeutic respite.

*NC START planned therapeutic respite beds are only intended for eligible individuals living in unlicensed residential settings, such as family homes.

http://www.alliancebhc.org/consumers-families/crisis-and-access/nc-start-access-faqs/

To refer someone to NC START, just call. Anyone who knows the individual and understands their current status and treatment, behavioral history, etc. can make a referral.  Parents, legal guardians, the individual, care coordinators at MCOs, hospital, etc.  Each of the 3 regions have an access number for information and referrals (below).  Referrals for individuals in crisis can be made at any time of day/night 24/7/365 to the appropriate access number.  I think that Cardinal is in the Western Region – they will let you know when you call.

Contact Information:
NC START (West) (888) 974-2937
NC START (Central) (919) 865-8730, (800) 662-7119, x8730
NC START (East) (252) 571-9039