Behavioral Health & Intellectual/
Developmental Disabilities:
Building Responsive Systems of Care in Connecticut: Where We Are and Where We Are Going
PLEASE JOIN US!
November 17, 2026 • 8:30 AM
New Haven Lawn Club
193 Whitney Ave • New Haven, CT
A collaborative conference featuring experts in behavioral health and I/DD that brings together families, advocates, providers, policymakers, and community partners to strengthen supports, share solutions, and build a brighter future for individuals with I/DD and autism across Connecticut.
Register by November 10th
$25 per person
Financial assistance is available to help ensure cost is not a barrier.
Contact lisa@grassrootsct.com for more information or questions.
Directions:
FROM 91 NORTH OR SOUTH: Take exit 3, the Trumbull St exit, proceed through traffic light at end of ramp, turn right at the next light onto Whitney Ave. Directly past the next traffic light, on the right is our entrance, marked by their sign. (Peabody Museum is on your left.)
FROM 95 NORTH OR SOUTH: Take 95 towards New Haven and merge on to 91 North. Follow directions for 91 above.
Free parking onsite or street parking available.
HOSTED BY:
Together, we can create a more inclusive Connecticut.
Agenda
8:30–9:15 AM | Networking Breakfast & Registration
Join families, providers, advocates, policymakers, and community partners for breakfast and an opportunity to connect before the program begins (vendor display tables)
9:15–9:20 AM | Welcome from The Arc Connecticut
Opening remarks and an overview of the goals for the day.
9:20–9:30 AM | Welcome from the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities
Setting the stage for a day focused on collaboration, practical solutions, and strengthening behavioral health supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
9:30–10:00 AM | Where Connecticut Is Going: Behavioral Health, Crisis Response & DDS
Elisa Velardo, Commissioner / Connecticut Department of Developmental Services - Commissioner Velardo will provide an update on DDS priorities and Connecticut’s direction in addressing behavioral health needs, crisis response, and supports for individuals with I/DD and their families.
10:00–10:45 AM | Connecticut’s New Office of Behavioral Health: What It Does & How It Can Help Howard Sovronsky - An introduction to Connecticut’s new Office of Behavioral Health, its role in the state’s behavioral health system, and how it can help strengthen coordination, access, and services for individuals with complex needs.
10:45–11:00 AM | Break
11:00–11:40 AM | Behavioral Health & I/DD: What’s Working in Connecticut—and Where We Go from Here
Michael Powers, Psy.D. - A look at Connecticut’s current behavioral health landscape for people with I/DD, promising approaches already underway, the challenges families and providers continue to face, and opportunities to strengthen the system.
11:40 AM–12:25 PM | Aging with I/DD: Meeting Changing Behavioral Health Needs Across the Lifespan
Jerry Kerins, M.D. - As people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live longer, their behavioral health and healthcare needs can become increasingly complex. Dr. Kerins will explore the intersection of aging, I/DD, and behavioral health, including how needs change over time and what families, caregivers, providers, and systems should be thinking about as they support an aging I/DD population.
12:25–1:25 PM | Lunch & Expert Panel Discussion
What Works: Evidence-Based Practices for Supporting People with Complex Behavioral Needs - A panel of psychologists and behavioral health experts will discuss practical, evidence-based approaches for supporting people with I/DD who have complex behavioral health needs. The conversation will explore what works in clinical, residential, and community settings; barriers to successful care; and what families and providers need from Connecticut’s behavioral health and developmental disability systems.
Courtney Cotter, PhD. - Senior Director of Behavioral Health, Aspire
Kimberly Dorsett, PhD, - Clinical Supervisor-Mary W. Parker Autism Center, Institute of Living-Hartford Hospital
1:25 PM | Closing Remarks & Next Steps
A brief wrap-up highlighting key takeaways from the day, opportunities for continued collaboration, and how these conversations can help inform future policy and system improvements.
Schedule subject to change.