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Special Treatment Education and Prevention Services Inc

EIN 95-3111169 · Bakersfield, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF STEPS IS TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INDIVIDUAL RECOVERY THROUGH SAFETY, EDUCATION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING. THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. STEPS PROVIDES EDUCATION, GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING TO HELP THE PARTICIPANTS AVOID DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND RE-OFFENDING. STEPS ALSO OFFERS TRAFFIC SCHOOL INSTRUCTION TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A TRAFFIC CITATION.A VARIETY OF PREVENTION SERVICES ARE ALSO OFFERED, INCLUDING EDUCATION INCLUDING FOCUSING ON UNDERAGE DRINKERS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE OVER-SERVED ALCOHOL. THE RESPONSIBLE BEVERAGE SERVICE TRAINING PROVIDES SERVICES AT A VARIETY OF SITES THROUGHOUT KERN COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
31
Volunteers
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $1.0 million spent. THIS ORGANIZATION WORKS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER. THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, WHETHER ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. PROVIDING EDUCATION, GROUP ANDINDIVIDUAL COUNSELING HELPS THE PARTICIPANTS TO AVOID DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND RECIDIVATING. STEPS ALSO WORKS WITH TRAFFIC VIOLATORS, THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED A TRAFFIC TICKET. THE TRAFFIC VIOLATOR SCHOOL CAN EITHER BE TAKEN ON-SITE OR THROUGH THE INTERNET TRAFFIC SCHOOL. STEPS ALSO PROVIDES A VARIETY OF PREVENTION SERVICES, INCLUDING FOCUSING ON UNDERAGE DRINKERS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE OVER-SERVED ALCOHOL. THE RESPONSIBLE BEVERAGE SERVICE TRAINING PROVIDED SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOTH KERN AND SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES.
  2. $562,782 spent. THE OUTPATIENT DRUG-FREE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES. THERE ARE TWO LEVELS OF TREATMENT, LEVEL 1.0 ALLOWS CLIENTS TO ATTEND 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK FOR 1.5 HOURS EACH, WHILE ALSO HAVING NO LESS THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSION PER MONTH. THE 2.1 PROGRAM HAS CLIENTS RECEIVING APPROXIMATELY 9-12 HOURS PER WEEK OF INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES IN ADDITION TO NO LESS THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL SESSION MONTHLY. ALL CLIENTS RECEIVE REGULAR DRUG TESTING. WHILE MOST CLIENTS ARE REFERRED BY EITHER PROBATION OR CHILDREN'S PROTECTIVE SERVICES, SOME CLIENTS ARE SELF REFERRED. MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE CO-OCCURRING, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE BOTH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. CLIENTS UNDERGO AN INTAKE, ASSESSMENT, AND WORK WITH THE THERAPIST TO DEVELOP A TREATMENT PLAN THAT WORKS WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. CLIENTS RECEIVE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS CRISIS SERVICES WHEN NECESSARY. CLIENTS ARE DRUG TESTED REGULARLY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1978.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.