Changing Lives One STEP at a Time

For over 50 years, Services To Enhance Potential has provided services to individuals with developmental disabilities and other mental health needs in Southeast Michigan. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, STEP is a non-profit organization that brings employment and employment training to 1,400 adults throughout Wayne and Macomb counties with resource centers located in Dearborn, Detroit, and Westland.

Since 1972, STEP has provided the most strategic and effective specialized programs and services in its industry. STEP programs include an award-winning culinary arts program, a Progressive Art Studio Collective classes with 3 studios and gallery, three STEP owned and operated Thrift Store & Donation Centers, employment training services, volunteer opportunities, and classroom learning experiences among others.

Services To Enhance Potential’s dedicated and experienced Support Coordinators help promote the independence of each member by assisting with a variety of services including but not limited to, housing services, benefit planning, case management, and health services. The relationships built with each member and their parents, guardians and/or caregivers have brought about a number of impressive outcomes for the members served. Year after year, STEP members are surveyed on the level of care provided. Our Support Coordinators continuously receive scores above 95% in satisfaction.

STEP’s Employment and Training Services Department promotes employment opportunities by providing job development, placement, training, and coaching. Employment and Training Services include:

Clerk at the STEP Thrift Store and Donation Center

Benefit-2-Work Coaching: STEP assists individuals receiving state benefits and explains how they can have gainful employment and if it would affect any benefits being received.

Job Development/Placement: Dedicated Employment Representatives work with jobseekers to develop an individualized plan for employment and prepare for competitive integrated employment opportunities.

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS): Pre-ETS programming prepares first-time and newer jobseekers for the transition from secondary education to the world of employment.

Project SEARCH: STEP partners with Project SEARCH to give students who are currently enrolled in a public school an opportunity to spend their last year of high school in a hybrid classroom and worksite environment. This service permits the student to graduate with one full class year of work experience in a field that is of interest to them. Our current program includes a partnership with Corewell Health. Since there are multiple sites a student to experience a variety of work experiences during the student’s final year of education. With a job placement rate of over 80%, the program can be quite beneficial for its participants.

Skill Building: This training opportunity offers jobseekers a way to experience jobs and learn critical skills required to obtain and maintain employment while earning a wage.

STEP Thrift Store and Donation Centers: STEP owns and operates three Thrift Stores to provide paid job training in retail and related fields. Opportunities at the stores include work trials, paid work internships, worksite evaluations, and longer-term employment as Retail Clerks. Each of these opportunities are designed specifically to provide the level of experience and training necessary for success, and lead to employment.

Summer Earn & Learn: This summer program is a partnership between Michigan Rehabilitation Service/ Bureau of Services for Blind Persons and STEP. The Summer Earn & Learn Program consists of six weeks of paid on-the-job experience at a community work site with the support of a Skills Trainer. In addition to working in the community, this program also includes virtual classroom sessions centered around soft skill development, workplace expectations, industry specific support and more. Participants will learn the skills they need to be successful in the workplace and earn at least minimum wage while doing so.

Supported Employment: STEP’s Employment and Training Services Department works diligently to provide ongoing support services to new jobseekers and to develop meaningful partnerships and opportunities with community employers.

Vocational Rehabilitation: STEP partners with Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) to offer a variety of job readiness, job development and placement services, including Trial Work Experiences, On the Job Evaluations, and Vocational Assessments.

Our Production program at STEP has the capabilities to do kitting and hand assembly jobs for customers. This program allows individuals served an opportunity to experience a wide array of factory settings so that they can pursue competitive employment outside of STEP.

STEP member learning new skills in What’s Cooking at STEP

STEP’s Culinary Arts classes, What’s Cooking at STEP, helps prepare members for careers in the food service industry by learning food safety, customer service, and preparing delicious dishes. Located in Westland and Detroit, these classes allow members to explore the art of cooking in a community-based setting. To provide an authentic learning environment, meals are prepared with the assistance of our skilled instructors. Our talented members prepare delicious and gourmet appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, and desserts. An absence of community involvement is a common problem for adults with disabilities. Lack of options for community integration often leads to isolation, depression, and other health concerns. The Dream program was created to provide members with opportunities for them to explore their community. Dream offers a sense of community to members with barriers to employment or community opportunities to those already employed. Members are encouraged to attend community events, participate in volunteer opportunities, experience different cultures and try new leisure pursuits.

Our Dream program having fun on a community outing

The Progressive Art Studio Collective (PASC) is an art and design studio, and gallery program of STEP, located in Detroit, Southgate, Westland, and virtually. PASC is dedicated to supporting adults with developmental disabilities and mental health needs to advance individual career paths in the art and design fields. Founded in 2021, PASC is the first progressive art studio in Wayne County, Michigan, bringing focus to the artistic talent, expression, and life experiences of adults with disabilities, making a considerable change in their lives.

PASC Artist Manual Bart and and PASC Art Advisor Eleni Zaharopoulos

OUR VALUES:

• • Respect for all individuals with whom we come in contact

• • Empowerment and choice for all individuals

• • Integrity in all of our transactions and dealings with one another and the public

• • Excellence in all that we endeavor to achieve

• • Collaboration in making decisions that impact others

• • Competency in each task we perform

• • Accountability for our decisions and actions

• • Commitment to those we support and to one another

STEP member showcasing his money counting skills

The STEP community strives to help others reach their goals and full potential in all areas of life. Together we’re Changing Lives One STEP at a time. For more information about Services To Enhance Potential, please visit www.stepcentral.org.