Referral & Contact Information
Referral Information
We are currently accepting referrals for TN START AST
Phase 4.
We are now accepting referrals in stage 4
Once you complete all sections of the Referral Form and click submit, the referral will be emailed directly to TN START AST for review. A member of TN START AST will contact you to confirm receipt of the Referral Form and inform you of next steps.
Guidance for when to make a referral:
A referral should be made if the individual:
- Is currently in crisis and meets the criteria for START enrollment.
- Is currently at or has been to a psychiatric hospital within the past 24 months.
- Has been referred for additional staffing due to challenging behavior or has been receiving enhanced (one-to-one or more) staffing for an extended period;
- Has a history of multiple community placements over the past 12 months due to challenging behavior;
- Has complex mental health needs that have required crisis intervention, calls to 911, or frequent medication changes within the last 12 months.
- Has an unclear diagnosis and treatment formulation;
- Is at risk of losing their work or home placement due to challenging behavior or unmet mental health needs
- Is presenting with complex behavioral, medical, and/or trauma-related issues.
Anyone can make a referral to TN START AST. This includes hospitals, IDD-MH service recipients, families, mental health providers, IDD providers, mobile crisis teams, law enforcement, schools, service coordinators/care managers, etc. Please ensure that the person and their support team are made aware that a referral is being made.
TN START AST Regions
Contact Information
Bruce Davis,
PhD, BCBA-D, Sr. LPE, LPC,
Deputy Commissioner of Clinical Services
TN START AST Program Director
(615) 532-1610
Bruce.Davis@tn.gov
Carrie Dhanarajan,
MA, LBA, BCBA
TN START Director
629-203-3160
Carrie.Dhanarajan@tn.gov
Taylor McLeod,
MSW, LMSW
Assistant Clinical Director
615-477-0566
Taylor.C.McLeod@tn.gov
Victor Schueler,
M.D.
Director of Psychiatric Services
TN START AST Medical Director
Victor.Schueler@tn.gov
Ashton Hooper,
Ed.S., BCBA
TN START Clinical Director
629-239-1282
Ashton.Hooper@tn.gov
Johnathan Payne, MS
Assessment & Stabilization Manager
423-262-7258
Johnathan.Payne@tn.gov
Anna Mayfield, MS
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
423-709-3642
anna.mayfield@tn.gov
Calvin Wood, MSW
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
423-201-2331
calvin.wood@tn.gov
Sabrina Church
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
423-609-0149
sabrina.church@tn.gov
Abby Goncalves
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
(423) 203 0798
abby.goncalves@tn.gov
Kara Roberson
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
423-609-1564
kara.roberson@tn.gov
Tommy "Trent" Miller, BS
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-202-5647
Tommy.Miller@tn.gov
Steve Jennes
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-906-0912
stephen.jennes@tn.gov
Melissa Young, MS
Assessment & Stabilization Manager
865-895-0892
Melissa.J.Young@tn.gov
Misste Giles, BS
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-752-3289
misste.y.giles@tn.gov
Marlene Burcham, BSW
Assessment & Stabilization Manager
731-441-3390
Marlene.Burcham@tn.gov
Letisha Tolbert, BSW
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
731-363-7208
Letisha.Tolbert@tn.gov
Deanna Parker
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
731-618-9019
Deanna.Parker@tn.gov
Kaisey Taylor, MA
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
731-697-0809
Kaisey.Taylor@tn.gov
Johnnie Parker, MSW
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
731-697-2546
johnnie.parker@tn.gov
Racheal Smith
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
731-695-5376
Racheal.Smith@tn.gov
Esi Norwood, BS
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
865-839-5004
Esi.Norwood@tn.gov
Kate Vogt, BS
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
865-850-5849
Kate.Vogt@tn.gov
Jennifer Johnson, MSSW
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
865-603-6901
Jennifer.R.Johnson@tn.gov
Alison Gafford, BS
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
865-315-2640
Alison.Gafford@tn.gov
Sarah Woodcock, M.S.
Assessment & Stabilization Manager
423-895-8443
Sarah.Woodcock@tn.gov
Kimmarie Quintana,
MA, Certified START Coordinator
Assessment & Stabilization Manager
901-305-2756
kimmarie.quintana@tn.gov
Darah Rogers
Assessment and Stabilization Facilitator
901-706-2138
darah.rogers@tn.gov
Nicholas Durrah
Assessment and Stabilization Facilitator
901-661-1561
nicholas.durrah@tn.gov
Kemmie Douglas,
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
901-417-1599
kemmie.d.douglas@tn.gov
Alicia Garcia, M.A.
Assessment and Stabilization Facilitator
901-569-7955
alicia.garcia@tn.gov
George Bacon, BA, Psychology
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
901-562-3317
george.bacon@tn.gov
Selina Gallegos, MSW, Certified START Coordinator
Assessment & Stabilization Manager
615-487-0155
Selina.Gallegos@tn.gov
Tracy R. Strickland, MRC
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-752-3267
tracy.r.strickland@tn.gov
Linda M. Hatcher, MBA
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-906-7280
linda.hatcher@tn.gov
Amy Burns
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-806-5365
amy.x.burns@tn.gov
Melody Keith
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-961-8060
melody.keith@tn.gov
Chalyce Gammon, MA
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-806-9097
chalyce.gammon@tn.gov
David Weyand, BS
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-906-7082
David.Weyand@tn.gov
Daryus Drayton
Assessment and Stabilization Facilitator
615-854-1566
daryus.drayton@tn.gov
Lea V. Lord-Smith, MA
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-752-3063
lea.v.lord-smith@tn.gov
Diane Otto, BA
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-330-0163
Diane.Otto@tn.gov
Katy McCombs, MS, BCBA
Assessment & Stabilization Manager
615-981-1396
mary.mccombs@tn.gov
Staci R. Denton, MA
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-734-0198
staci.denton@tn.gov