Supports and Training for Employing People Successfully (STEPS) is a program that can help people with disabilities or behavioral health needs find jobs and live more independently. It can help them work without losing their Social Security benefits or health insurance.
People with at least one of the behavioral health diagnoses below and who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may be able to join STEPS:
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar or 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
People on the Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) waitlist for the Intellectual Developmental Disability (I/DD) or Physical Disability (PD) waiver OR those already on the IDD, PD, or Brain Injury (BI) HCBS waiver and willing to leave may also be able to join STEPS if they get SSI-only. STEPS is not an HCBS waiver and people cannot be on both programs at the same time. HCBS waiver and waitlist spots may be able to be kept safe for people wishing to try STEPS.
STEPS services include:
- Pre-Vocational Services
- Independent Living Skills Training
- Personal Assistant Services
- Transportation
- Supported Employment
- Assistive Technology
- Community Service Coordination
To join STEPS and get services, someone must be interested in finding and keeping a job as well as the following:
- Be a Kansas resident
- Be between 16 and 65 years old
- Enrolled in or applying for KanCare (Kansas Medicaid)
- 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 would like to get STEPS services, want to become a provider of STEPS services, or would like to learn more about the STEPS program, please contact the STEPS Program Manager, Erin Sanders-Hahs at erin.sandershahs@ks.gov or the STEPS Provider Liaison, Kyle Aldrich at kyle.aldrich@ks.gov.
STEPS Fast Facts and Information
STEPS Provider Lists
STEPS Provider Choice Form - 1.7.26
