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 .
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 Program Manual 1-1-24
Program Manual Revisions Log
STEPS Referral - Fillable
STEPS Referral - Print Version
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