Supports & Training for Employing People Successfully

Supports and Training for Employing People Successfully (STEPS) is a program through which people with disabilities and/or behavioral health conditions may seek a path to employment without jeopardizing their Social Security benefits or losing medical insurance coverage.

Participants who have any of the following behavioral health primary diagnoses and who receive services through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are eligible:

  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar and major depression
  • Delusional disorders
  • Personality disorders
  • Psychosis not otherwise specified
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder; or
  • Substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring SUD

SSI participants currently enrolled in Medicaid and waitlisted for Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) on the Intellectual or Developmental Disability (I/DD), Physical Disability (PD), or Brain Injury (BI) Waiver waitlists; or members who have an I/DD, PD or BI Waiver, who are willing to leave their HCBS waiver.  

STEPS services include: Pre-Vocational Services, Independent Living Skills Training, Personal Assistant Services, Transportation, Supported Employment, Assistive Technology, and Community Service Coordination.  

To receive STEPS services, a participant must be interested in finding and maintaining employment as well as the following:

  • Be between 16 and 65 years old
  • Be a Kansas resident
  • Meet the Social Security Administration definition of disability
  • May have countable income up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Limit

Additionally KDHE reserves the right to require additional documentation of a participant's disability and/or mental health condition. 

If you are interested in receiving STEPS services, would be interested in becoming a provider, or would like a presentation on the STEPS program, please contact the STEPS Program Manager, Erin Sanders-Hahs at – erin.sandershahs@ks.gov .

STEPS Fast Facts and Information

STEPS Factsheet in English
STEPS Factsheet in Spanish
Eligibility Comparison Sheet

STEPS Program Manual

The manual detailing the policies and procedures regarding the STEPS (Support and Training to Employ People Successfully) program and its connection to Working Healthy is available to download and read here. This is required reading for all Community Service Coordinators, MCO Care Coordinators/Care Managers, participants, and/or their guardian/representative.  
STEPS Manual 1-1-23
STEPS Referral - Fillable
STEPS Referral - Print Version

STEPS Services Assessment

STEPS Services Assessment  

STEPS Community Service Coordination Training & Forms

STEPS CSC Qualifications and Responsibilities Form 
STEPS CSC Acknowledgement of Program Policies
STEPS CSC Mandated Reporter Form
STEPS CSC Change form

For CSC Billing:
STEPS CSC Services Form

CSCs must use this form unless your organization has received approval from the STEPS Program Manager to use another method of documentation.  Please contact the Program Manager with any questions.  

STEPS Service Plan Forms

STEPS Individualized Service Plan - Must be completed electronically
Provider Pay Rates for Service Plan
STEPS Participant Agreement Form
STEPS Emergency Backup Plan
STEPS CSC Electronic Consent Statement
STEPS Services Justification Form

STEPS Service Providers

STEPS Agency Provided Services List
STEPS Providers List 
STEPS CSC List
STEPS Provider Agency Qualifications Checklist
STEPS Specialty Provider Qualifications Checklist

Assistive Services

All Assistive Services Request packets must be submitted in full in order to be processed.  Failure to provide all required information and documentation will result in an immediate denial.
STEPS Assistive Services Request Form - Fillable
STEPS Assistive Services Request Form - Print Version
STEPS Assistive Services Verification and Satisfaction Form

STEPS Training Videos

STEPS CSC Training - 1.17.23
STEPS MCO Training
STEPS Program Overview
STEPS CSC Training Quiz