- (888) 604-5527
- info@strongstepsbh.org
StrongSteps Behavioral Health Foundation provides behavioral-health, recovery, peer-informed, social-care, and community-based support through programs designed around different needs and populations. Use this Provider Directory to review program purpose, population served, general eligibility, coverage requirements, service areas, referral requirements, documentation and referral pathways. Not sure where someone fits? Call (888) 604-5527.
The information on this page is intended to help providers identify programs that may be appropriate for referral.
Meeting general eligibility criteria does not guarantee program acceptance, enrollment, Medicaid authorization, insurance authorization, funding, continued eligibility, immediate availability, a specific service or a particular outcome.
Final eligibility depends on the requirements of the specific program and the individual's circumstances. StrongSteps may need additional information or documentation before determining whether an individual can participate.
For individuals who may benefit from support related to stability, independence, daily functioning, skill development, and community participation.
For individuals who may need assistance coordinating services, providers, resources, or other supports where an applicable StrongSteps program is available.
For individuals who need help identifying and navigating community resources and social-care supports.
For individuals navigating transitions between settings, services, programs, or other significant life circumstances.
For available StrongSteps programs and initiatives serving youth and young adults.
For individuals who may benefit from peer-informed, recovery-oriented support.
For individuals who may need assistance navigating housing-related or other social-care resources.
Community Oriented Recovery & Empowerment Services: psychosocial rehabilitation, PSR+ education and employment, family support and training, and empowerment services — peer support. CORE referrals may have additional eligibility, authorization, insurance and documentation requirements.
Psychosocial Rehabilitation supports eligible individuals in developing and strengthening skills related to recovery, functioning, independence, relationships, and meaningful participation in community life. Support is individualized around the person's recovery goals. May support goals related to daily living skills, community participation, social skills, communication, relationships, self-advocacy, wellness, independent living, problem-solving, recovery, managing life responsibilities, building natural supports and increasing confidence. Who it serves: adults who meet applicable CORE eligibility requirements and have identified rehabilitation needs that can appropriately be addressed through PSR. Eligibility may involve age, Medicaid enrollment, behavioral-health needs, functional needs, medical necessity, applicable New York State CORE requirements, managed-care or authorization requirements, and service-area availability. Coverage: CORE is a Medicaid behavioral-health service. Referral information may include demographic information, Medicaid/coverage information, reason for referral, identified rehabilitation needs, relevant behavioral-health information, current services, supporting documentation and applicable authorization or recommendation documentation.
PSR+ provides rehabilitation support related to educational and employment goals for eligible individuals when those goals are part of the person's recovery. The service is intended to help individuals develop skills and overcome barriers affecting meaningful educational or employment participation — exploring or returning to school, maintaining education, developing study and organizational skills, exploring and preparing for employment, developing workplace skills, maintaining employment, building confidence, problem-solving around barriers, strengthening routines and increasing independence. Who it serves: eligible individuals with identified rehabilitation needs related to education or employment. Eligibility follows applicable CORE requirements and may include Medicaid eligibility, behavioral-health needs, functional or rehabilitation needs, education or employment goals, medical necessity, authorization requirements and geographic availability. To refer: identify the person's educational or employment goals and the barriers they would like help addressing.
Family Support & Training helps eligible families and natural supports better understand behavioral-health recovery and strengthen their ability to support an individual's recovery goals. Support may include behavioral-health and recovery education, communication, family support, understanding behavioral-health systems, strengthening natural supports, problem-solving, supporting boundaries, resource connection and building family confidence. Who it serves: family members or natural supports of eligible individuals when the service is appropriate and meets applicable CORE requirements. Important: family participation must be handled consistent with individual choice, applicable authorization, privacy requirements, program requirements and clinical appropriateness. Family involvement should not automatically be assumed. To refer: identify why Family Support & Training may benefit the individual's recovery and who the relevant family or natural supports are.
Empowerment Services — Peer Support provides recovery-oriented support informed by lived experience. Peer professionals use their experience, training, and recovery perspective to help individuals identify strengths, build self-advocacy, strengthen community connections, and pursue personally meaningful recovery goals. Peer support may include recovery exploration, goal development, self-advocacy, community connection, strength identification, wellness, building confidence, navigating systems, preparing for appointments, developing natural supports, increasing community participation, sharing recovery-oriented strategies and supporting hope. Peer support is NOT psychotherapy, psychiatry, medical treatment, diagnosis, emergency intervention, or telling someone what their recovery must look like — it is a distinct recovery-oriented service. To refer: identify the individual's recovery goals and why peer support may be beneficial.
StrongSteps Community Support programs are designed around the understanding that behavioral health affects — and is affected by — everyday life. Depending on the specific program, support may focus on independence, daily functioning, community participation, skill development, recovery, relationships, routines, resource navigation, self-advocacy and stability. Some Community Support services may fall within regulated or payer-funded programs, while others may operate through different funding or community initiatives. Eligibility depends on the specific Community Support program — review the individual program before referring.
Care Coordination services or activities may help individuals connect the different services, providers, resources, and systems involved in their lives. Depending on the program, this may include coordination involving behavioral health, healthcare, social care, housing, benefits, community resources, recovery services, family supports, education and employment. Who it may serve: individuals whose needs involve multiple services or systems and who meet the requirements of an applicable StrongSteps program. Important: not every navigation or referral activity is formal care management — the scope of coordination depends on the specific program.
Community Navigation helps individuals understand and connect with community resources that may address needs affecting their stability and well-being. Support may involve identifying resources, understanding eligibility, preparing for applications, connecting with organizations, benefits navigation, housing-resource navigation, food, transportation, employment and educational resources, community programs and other social-care resources. Eligibility depends on the specific program or funding pathway; some community navigation activities may have broader eligibility than Medicaid-funded behavioral-health services. Community Navigation does not guarantee financial assistance, housing, benefits approval, acceptance by another organization or immediate resource availability.
Transitions can create gaps in support. StrongSteps may provide or coordinate support for eligible individuals navigating transitions involving hospitals, behavioral-health treatment, community programs, housing, education, employment, other services or systems, and significant life changes. Transition support may include identifying next steps, resource connection, community navigation, peer support, goal planning, preparing for appointments, connecting with providers, strengthening natural supports and addressing barriers. Provider note: when possible, referral planning should begin before a transition occurs — early coordination may help reduce gaps between services.
Youth and young adults may experience behavioral-health and social challenges while simultaneously navigating education, employment, housing, family relationships, independence, identity, healthcare transitions, financial responsibilities and community connection. StrongSteps programs and community initiatives may provide support to youth and young adults depending on the specific program. Age requirements, consent requirements, insurance requirements and other eligibility criteria depend on the specific program. Providers should not assume that all StrongSteps behavioral-health programs serve minors.
StrongSteps values lived experience as an important part of behavioral-health recovery. Peer and recovery support may be available through different StrongSteps programs and may include recovery goals, self-advocacy, strength identification, community connection, wellness, system navigation, building confidence, natural supports, recovery education and community participation. Eligibility depends on the peer program being requested. Some peer services may have Medicaid or program-specific eligibility requirements; community peer initiatives may operate differently.
Housing instability, food insecurity, transportation barriers, financial hardship, and other social needs can significantly affect behavioral health and recovery. StrongSteps may help eligible individuals identify and navigate resources related to housing, homelessness prevention, food, transportation, benefits, utilities, financial resources, employment, education and other basic needs. Eligibility varies significantly depending on the specific resource, program, funding source and individual circumstances. StrongSteps cannot guarantee rental assistance, financial assistance, housing placement, emergency shelter, utility assistance, benefits approval or availability of community resources — but may help identify and navigate available options.
StrongSteps' program development includes Representative Payee services for Social Security beneficiaries who require or are assigned a representative payee. These services are different from behavioral-health treatment; the purpose is to help manage Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits in accordance with Social Security Administration requirements and the beneficiary's needs. Services may include receiving applicable Social Security benefits on behalf of the beneficiary, paying essential expenses, helping establish a spending plan, maintaining required records, managing benefit funds according to applicable requirements, reporting required information to the SSA, and supporting appropriate use of funds. Representative Payee eligibility and appointment are governed by the Social Security Administration — StrongSteps cannot independently decide that someone requires a representative payee. Providers interested in these services should contact StrongSteps for current program information and referral procedures.
Program | Who It Serves | General Eligibility | Coverage | Service Area | Referral |
Community Support | Individuals building stability in everyday life | Depends on the specific Community Support program | Varies — regulated/payer-funded or community-funded | Varies by program | Varies by program |
Care Coordination | Individuals whose needs involve multiple services or systems | Requirements of the applicable StrongSteps program | Varies | Varies by program | Varies by program |
Community Navigation | Individuals needing help connecting with community and social-care resources | Depends on program or funding pathway; may be broader than Medicaid-funded services | May not require insurance | Varies by program | Providers, community partners and other sources where permitted |
Transition Support | Individuals navigating transitions between settings, services or life circumstances | Depends on the applicable program | Varies | Varies by program | Refer before the transition when possible |
Youth & Young Adults | Youth and young adults where programs are available | Age, consent, insurance and program-specific criteria | Varies | Varies by program | Varies by program |
Peer & Recovery Support | Individuals seeking recovery-oriented, peer-informed support | Depends on the peer program requested | Medicaid or program-specific; community initiatives may differ | Varies by program | Varies by program |
Housing & Basic Needs | Individuals with housing, food, transportation or other social needs | Varies by resource, program, funding source and circumstances | Varies | Varies by program | Varies by program |
A person may meet eligibility requirements but still encounter limitations related to program capacity, staffing, authorization, funding, geographic availability, payer participation, required documentation, or other operational requirements.
ELIGIBLE means the person appears to meet the requirements of the program. AVAILABLE means StrongSteps can currently provide or begin the service. These are not always the same thing.
Some StrongSteps services may require Medicaid or participation with a specific payer or program. Other community initiatives may not require health insurance.
Never assume that because one StrongSteps program requires Medicaid, every StrongSteps program does. Likewise, participation in one StrongSteps program does not automatically establish eligibility for another.
StrongSteps serves communities across New York State, with offices across New York, but individual programs may have specific approved or operational service areas. Check the program, county or region, coverage and current availability before making a location-dependent referral.
Send what is needed — not everything you have. Submit only information required or reasonably necessary, through approved secure processes.
No. Each program may have different eligibility, coverage, geographic, referral, and documentation requirements.
No. Certain Medicaid-funded behavioral-health services may require Medicaid, while other programs and community initiatives may use different eligibility requirements.
No. Eligibility does not guarantee authorization, funding, capacity, enrollment, or immediate service availability.
StrongSteps serves communities across New York State. Individual programs may have more limited geographic service areas.
Possibly. This depends on the individual's needs, eligibility, program rules, coverage requirements, authorization, and whether services may appropriately be provided together.
Yes. Call (888) 604-5527 for provider assistance.
No. StrongSteps offers different types of services, supports, programs, community initiatives, and events. Eligibility and participation requirements vary considerably.
No. StrongSteps may help individuals navigate resources or may operate specific assistance initiatives when funding is available, but resource connection does not guarantee financial assistance, housing placement, or approval.
Visit the Make a Referral page and follow the referral pathway for the applicable program.
Behavioral-health programs, Medicaid requirements, payer requirements, funding rules, and service availability can change. StrongSteps reviews this page regularly. Providers with questions about current requirements should contact StrongSteps at (888) 604-5527 before relying on outdated printed materials.
Find the program. Check eligibility. Make the connection. Know the program? Make a referral. Need to check geography? Service Areas. Need forms or documentation? Referral Resources. Still unsure? Call (888) 604-5527.
