STEPS Program Reduced Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) Waitlists by 5% While Maintaining Stability among Participants
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(New York, NY) –Today, the Institute for Community Living (ICL) released a report on the outcomes of its innovative Step-down Treatment Ensures Personal Success (STEPS) pilot program, highlighting significant success in providing intensive, personalized support to some of the hardest-to-reach New Yorkers experiencing serious behavioral health challenges and housing insecurity. One year after its launch, STEPS has proven to be a game-changer, helping individuals achieve stability and avoid hospitalizations, shelters, and homelessness by transitioning to stable environments with comprehensive, community-based whole health support—all while reducing waitlists for the City and State’s Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs.
Funded by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the STEPS pilot program was launched in the fall of 2023 to address a critical gap in the behavioral health system. Before STEPS, individuals who no longer needed the intensive support provided by the city’s Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) and state Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) mobile programs lacked a pathway to step down to a lower level of care. This fueled waitlists of over 1,000 individuals who urgently need high-touch services–including people New Yorkers often encounter on the streets and subways.
“We identified a critical gap in the system, leading us to create a pilot that transitions individuals off intensive mobile treatment services while ensuring they maintain their progress and avoid setbacks,” said Jody Rudin, CEO of the Institute for Community Living. “The results are clear: STEPS works. This report confirms that what began as a pilot is now a proven model—demonstrating that with the right support, people can continue their recovery journey in the community while also making room for many other New Yorkers who need intensive care. We are proud of what we have achieved and look forward to expanding this successful model to reach more individuals and further strengthen the city’s mental health system.”
STEPS also has a system-wide impact, successfully reducing the waitlists for ICL’s IMT and ACT programs by 5% and opening 65 treatment slots for people in crisis. The pilot represents a scalable model for reducing bottlenecks in the mental health system. With more than 1,000 individuals currently on ACT waitlists and 300 on IMT waitlists in New York City, the need for step-down programs like STEPS is more critical than ever.
In its first year, the STEPS pilot program enrolled 77 individuals, with 75 still actively engaged. The program provides medium- to low-intensity mobile treatment services, including psychiatric care, medication management, health monitoring, case management, skills development, and peer support. Unlike ACT and IMT, which provide six visits per month, STEPS is designed to reduce visits over time, helping clients build independence while still receiving essential services.
STEPS First-Year Outcomes:
- 100% of clients maintained stable housing.
- 98% of clients remained adherent to their medication regimen.
- 95% avoided emergency room visits, and 99% were not hospitalized.
- 94% of clients were connected to a primary care provider.
- 99% had no arrests while in the program.
- 100% were not incarcerated.
A unique feature of STEPS is its flexibility—clients who struggle with the transition can return to their ACT or IMT team if needed. This safety net ensures that individuals continue receiving the right level of care at the right time.
“These positive outcomes from ICL’s STEPS program prove how building a greater range of support and flexibility into the continuum of care increases health and housing stability for New Yorkers who need personalized services. Congratulations to Jody and her talented team for innovating with STEPS, a great example of the creative solutions our city needs to bring us closer to ending homelessness,” said Tracy Perrizo, NYC Program Officer at the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
“Ensuring New Yorkers experiencing severe mental health challenges receive the comprehensive, community-based care they need is key to accessing stability for our city,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “These proven solutions are within our grasp, but lack funding at the scale necessary to reduce wait lists for critical services. In my 2025 State of the City address, I proposed funding step-down programs for ACT and IMT clients who have progressed in their recovery so even more New Yorkers can get the support they need. We look forward to supporting the Institute for Community Living’s STEPS program and building on its initial success.”
ICL plans to expand referral pathways beyond its own ACT and IMT programs to maximize the program’s impact. The second year will focus on increasing external referrals and refining best practices to further improve outcomes.
“The problems of crime, unemployment, homelessness, and substance abuse in our community often have their roots in mental health issues. STEPS provides a crucial missing link between levels of treatment that allows clients to transition from acute to moderate levels of care in a manner that supports sustained recovery. Through its success, it has lessened the burden on precious therapeutic resources, freeing up seats and reducing waiting times. I thank the Institute for Community Living for leading on this model, and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust for its financial support,” said New York City Council Deputy Speaker, Council Member Diana Ayala.
“As our city continues the work to address the mental health crisis, we must ensure that our most vulnerable New Yorkers receive a full continuum of care on the path to recovery and rehabilitation,” said New York City Council Member Lee, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction. “We must continue to support the work of organizations like the Institute for Community Living, which continues to fill the gap and provide a lower level of care to individuals transitioning off of the City’s IMT and ACT programs. ICL’s STEPS program is a proven solution that not only provides personalized support to New Yorkers most in need of services but also reduces waitlists and increases New York City’s capacity to provide better mental health outcomes for its residents.
