START celebrates 5 years of helping patients find ‘the road back’

Add to FavoritesAngelica Montanez was struggling. The 28-year-old York resident sank into a depression, quit her job, was evicted from her apartment and ended up in a shelter, where she was referred to a WellSpan program. Called START, the program gave Angelica a fresh start. Celebrating its fifth year in operation, WellSpan START (Specialized Treatment and Recovery Team), offers Angelica care from a focused 15-member team that includes psychiatrists, behavioral health counselors and addiction medicine experts, and offers connection to community programs. “Our innovative program delivers the right care, at the right time and in the right place to patients who have complex needs and are often in crisis,” says Dr. Mitch Crawford, a psychiatrist who specializes in addiction treatment and is the medical director of START. “We know that the best care is flexible and individualized to meet people where they are and help them stabilize their lives.” Headquartered in York near county agencies that offer services such as housing and food, START provides behavioral health and addiction treatment services at a walk-in clinic that often can offer appointments on the same day or within a week. It helps patients avoid hospital emergency department visits and supports them as they strive to live their healthiest, best lives. In its first five years, START has: Served 5,608 patients across multiple counties Offered 27,983 visits to those patients, representing the ongoing relationship START has with its patients Prevented 9,703 unnecessary emergency department visits with its supportive services Offered addiction treatment services to about 150 York County Prison inmates over the past two years One of START’s key services – to Angelica’s deep gratitude – includes a connection to a peer support specialist, a team member who shares his or her own lived experience with mental health and addiction challenges to support patients in their own journeys. Will Spencer, a peer support specialist, has offered Angelica a steady, positive presence. “Oh my goodness, Will has been there when I needed him the most,” Angelica says. “I had a crisis and said, ‘Will, I can’t do this anymore.’ He said, ‘I will be there.’ The next day, he was knocking on my door. I needed a friend, and he was there. “He makes me look at the brighter side, the greener grass. He made me realize again how amazing it is to have our own thing, how motivated you should be to maintain what you have.” Through support from Will, regular visits to the START clinic to receive injections of behavioral health medication and help from community programs, Angelica’s life has changed. She has an apartment and a steady job now. Perhaps most importantly, she has hope for her future. “I am very happy where I’m at and START put me on the road back to who I am,” she says. Angelica Montanez and Will Spencer, peer support specialist. Tags:behavioral healthMental health and wellbeingFeature story