Referral & Contact Information
Referral Information
We are currently accepting referrals for TN START AST
Phase 2.
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

Monique Brimmer, BA
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
423-509-7546
Monique.Brimmer@tn.gov

Anne Lownes, MS
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
423-223-7875
Anne.Lownes@tn.gov

Cheyenne Williams
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
(615) 917-2675
cheyenne.williams@tn.gov

Abby Goncalves
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
(423) 203 0798
abby.goncalves@tn.gov

Calvin Wood, MSW
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
423-201-2331
calvin.wood@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

Heather Lambert, MA
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
865-255-4879
Heather.Lambert@tn.gov

Ryan Black
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
865-850-2114
ryan.black@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

Destiny Higgins
Assessment and Stabilization Facilitator
901-609-0574
destiny.higgins@tn.gov

Alicia Garcia, M.A.
Assessment and Stabilization Facilitator
901-569-7955
alicia.garcia@tn.gov

Selina Gallegos
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
(615) 487-0155
Selina.Gallegos@tn.gov

Tracy R. Strickland, MRC
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-752-3267
tracy.r.strickland@tn.gov

Kristin D. McCloud, LMSW
Assessment & Stabilization Manager
615-917-0750
kristin.d.mccloud@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

James Goodloe Jr. MSW-LSW
Assessment & Stabilization Facilitator
615-752-3207
james.goodloe@tn.gov