Joan B Beasley, PhD is a Research Professor and Director of the National Research Consortium in MH-IDD, Institute on Disability, College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Beasley is a licensed mental health counselor and holds a Ph.D. in mental health policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University. She developed the cross-systems framework on which she built and served as the principal author and investigator of the START model, first implemented in 1988, a cross-systems crisis prevention and intervention evidence-informed program to improve capacity for effective mental health services. In recent years, her work has emphasized the conduct of more inclusive research and the development of methods to make mental health services more accessible, effective and meaningful for people with IDD. Dr. Beasley is currently the Principal Investigator/lead on several national studies in the US that emphasize inclusive research, measures of effective services and the promotion of mental health/well being for people with IDD and mental health service experiences. She also mentors students, researchers and policy leaders to improve research, policies and practices across the U.S and abroad. In addition to her work at UNH, her efforts include work with Georgetown University. She also serves as a visiting scholar at Brandeis University.
