HCBS I/DD Day Services · Topeka, Kansas

People First.
Standards Always.

CORE Foundations supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to build real skills, connect with their community, and live with dignity and purpose.

Call 785-329-5187 Send a Message
Program HoursMonday – Friday · 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location432 SW Lindenwood Ave, Topeka
The front entrance at CORE Foundations, with the CORE Foundations logo mat in the doorway and the main activity room beyond
Licensed
KDADS licensed provider
Affiliated
Shawnee County CDDO
Funding
HCBS I/DD Waiver
Status
Accepting referrals

Our Values

CORE is more than our name — it's how we show up every day.

Courage

We do what is right, even when it is hard. We advocate boldly for the people we serve and hold ourselves to the highest standard.

Optimism

We believe in the potential of every person. We lead with hope, encouragement, and a conviction that growth is always possible.

Responsibility

We own our actions, our commitments, and our outcomes. We are accountable to the people we serve, their families, and our community.

Empowerment

We support self-determination. Every person we serve has a voice, a choice, and a right to direct their own life.

What We Offer

Day habilitation services

Our program is built around your goals — guided by your Person-Centered Support Plan, not a one-size-fits-all schedule.

Life Skills & Independent Living

From cooking and budgeting to personal hygiene and home safety — we build the skills that support real, lasting independence.

Community Integration

Grocery runs, library visits, parks, local events — community participation is not an add-on at CORE Foundations. It is central to what we do.

Vocational & Employment Readiness

Job exploration, resume skills, interview practice, and connections to Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation for participants who want to work.

Recreation & Social Connection

Art, music, games, and social activities that support wellness, self-expression, and meaningful friendships with peers.

Person-Centered Planning

We partner with your Case Manager to make sure every PCSP goal is reflected in every activity and every interaction at CORE Foundations.

Coming Soon

Community Support Waiver services

We are preparing to offer Community Support Waiver services alongside our day program — individual, goal-based sessions built around what a person wants to be able to do.

We will announce a start date once it is confirmed. In the meantime, ask your targeted case manager about CORE Foundations, or get in touch and we will keep you posted.

A Day at CORE

What a typical day looks like

Most afternoons we head out into the community. Every person's day is shaped by their own Person-Centered Support Plan — but here is the rhythm our program is built around.

9:00 – 9:30
Arrival & Morning Check-In
Greetings, a preview of the day's agenda, and a look at each person's individual goals.
9:30 – 10:30
Morning Lesson
The current unit's topic — community and transportation, rights and responsibilities, health and safety, and more.
10:30 – 10:45
Break
Restroom, water, and a chance to reset before the next activity.
10:45 – 11:30
Skill Practice
Small-group, hands-on practice of the morning's lesson — the part where learning turns into doing.
11:30 – 12:15
Lunch
An independent lunch routine from start to finish: hand washing, food prep and heating, setting the table, and clean-up.
12:15 – 12:45
Choice & Social Time
Games, music, art, conversation, or quiet time — each person chooses how they spend it.
12:45 – 1:00
Outing Prep
Restroom, belongings, a look at where we're headed, and each person's goal for the trip.
1:00 – 2:30
Community Time
Out in the community — putting the week's skill to work in a real setting, or heading out for a recreational outing.
2:30 – 3:00
Reflection & Departure
Daily journal, one win to celebrate, gathering belongings, and goodbyes.
Two kinds of outings

Some outings put the week's lesson to work in a real setting — riding the bus, shopping from a list, ordering lunch. Others are simply for fun: a park, a ball game, a local event. Both build confidence and real connection.

Days we stay in

Weather and schedules don't always cooperate. On those days the afternoon moves to skill stations — Life Hacks, Technology, Home & Household Skills — and each person picks the one they want to work on. Music is usually going, conversation is welcome, and anyone who needs a break can take one.

Your plan comes first

This is the shape of our day, not a script. Activities and supports are adjusted to match each person's goals, pace, and support needs.

Our Story

Built for this community.
By this community.

CORE Foundations was founded by Tony and Sunshine Castaneda, who have spent their careers supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in this community.

Tony brings 18 years in I/DD services, working his way from Direct Support Professional to Director of Business Operations before founding CORE Foundations. Sunshine brings compassion, program leadership, and an unwavering commitment to dignity in every interaction.

"Every person who walks through our doors deserves support that sees them as a whole human being — not a diagnosis, not a billing code, not a case number."

Together, they built CORE Foundations on two commitments: people first, standards always. We are proud to serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Topeka and Shawnee County through the HCBS I/DD Waiver.

Tony Castaneda, Executive Director and Co-Founder of CORE Foundations
Tony Castaneda
Executive Director & Co-Founder

18 years in I/DD services, from Direct Support Professional to Director of Business Operations. Leads operations, compliance, and community partnerships.

Sunshine Castaneda, Program Director and Co-Founder of CORE Foundations
Sunshine Castaneda
Program Director & Co-Founder

Leads day-to-day programming and participant support. Credentialed in ACRE employment services, with deep compassion for the people we serve.

Now
hiring
Direct Support Professionals
DSP Positions Available

We're building our team. If you're passionate about supporting adults with disabilities, we want to hear from you.

For Case Managers & Families

Making a referral to CORE Foundations

We are an affiliated provider with the Shawnee County CDDO. Choosing a day services provider starts with options counseling through SNCDDO, where you see every provider in the area — we are one of them.

1
Options counseling with SNCDDO

The Shawnee County CDDO is the access point for I/DD services. They confirm eligibility and provide options counseling — an impartial walkthrough of every affiliated provider serving the area, so the choice in front of you is a real one.

Shawnee County CDDO · 785-232-5038 · 2701 SW Randolph, Topeka, KS 66611

2
Reach out

Contact the providers you're considering — more than one, if you can. Touring a few is the only way to compare. For us, that's a call or an email with a brief description of the person's support needs. No paperwork needed to start the conversation.

3
Tour and meet the team

The person, their family or guardian, and their Case Manager are all welcome to visit our space, meet us, and ask anything.

4
Plan the supports together

We review the Person-Centered Support Plan with the Case Manager so everything is arranged before the first day — staffing, training, and any specific supports or accommodations. The aim is that nothing is a surprise on day one, for the person or for us.

5
Choose your provider

Provider choice belongs to the person and their guardian — not to us, and not to anyone else. If you choose CORE Foundations, your Case Manager coordinates the start date with us.

Now accepting referrals

We have current openings for adults on the HCBS I/DD Waiver in Shawnee County and surrounding areas. Call us directly and you will reach a person, not a phone tree.

Call 785-329-5187

We Accept

  • HCBS I/DD Waiver
  • Shawnee County CDDO (SNCDDO) referrals
  • Sunflower Health Plan
  • Healthy Blue Kansas
  • UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
  • Private pay — call to discuss

Our Space

Take a look inside

You should be able to see where your loved one will spend their day before you ever walk through the door.

The main activity room at CORE Foundations, with tables and chairs and a wall of windows looking onto the neighborhood
Main Activity RoomWhere lessons, lunch, and social time happen
A wide open area of the CORE Foundations activity room with natural light from a long bank of windows
Room to MoveOpen space for group activities and events
The full kitchen at CORE Foundations, with a range, commercial refrigerator, work island and prep counters
Kitchen & Life SkillsCooking, meal prep, and daily living practice
Computer workstations and personal lockers at CORE Foundations, beside a window looking outside
Technology StationComputer skills, job searching, and personal lockers
The CORE Foundations welcome sign mounted on the brick wall beside our entrance door
Our EntranceLook for the CORE Foundations sign at our door

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

If your question isn't here, call us at 785-329-5187. We're happy to talk it through.

Who does CORE Foundations serve?
We serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Topeka, Shawnee County, and surrounding areas. Most participants are enrolled on the Kansas HCBS I/DD Waiver, and we also accept private pay. Our program is designed for adults, and we welcome a wide range of support needs.
What happens during a typical day?
Our day runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and blends lessons, hands-on skill practice, an independent lunch routine, choice time, and community outings. You can see the full rhythm in A Day at CORE above. Each person's actual day is guided by their own Person-Centered Support Plan.
How do I get started with services?
Services are accessed through the Shawnee County CDDO (SNCDDO), who confirm eligibility and provide options counseling — a review of every affiliated provider in the area so you can weigh all of them before deciding. You're welcome to call us at 785-329-5187 or send a message at any point in that process, before or after. If the person is already on the I/DD Waiver, their Targeted Case Manager helps coordinate. And if you're not sure where things stand, call us anyway — we'll help you find the right next step even if it isn't us.
What if my family member isn't on the waiver yet?
Kansas has a waiting list for the I/DD Waiver, and people are added to it through their local CDDO. For Shawnee County that is SNCDDO. If your family member isn't on the list yet, call us and we'll point you to the right contact to get that process started. It's worth doing sooner rather than later.
How much does it cost?
For participants enrolled on the HCBS I/DD Waiver, day services are covered by the waiver — there is no out-of-pocket cost to the individual or family for the services we provide. Your Case Manager can explain how your specific plan and budget work. If the person isn't on the waiver, private pay is an option. What it costs depends on how many days a week and what supports are needed, so call us at 785-329-5187 and we'll work through it with you.
Which insurance plans do you accept?
We are credentialed with all three KanCare managed care organizations: Sunflower Health Plan, Healthy Blue Kansas, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. We also accept referrals through the Shawnee County CDDO.
What training and screening does your staff have?
Every Direct Support Professional completes a full background screening package before working with participants, including the KDADS criminal record check, the national sex offender registry, Kansas DCF adult and child abuse registries, the OIG exclusion list, SAM.gov, and the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry. Staff complete the training required by KDADS for HCBS providers, and we continue training throughout the year.
Can we visit before deciding?
Yes, and we encourage it. Choosing a provider is a big decision, and a website only tells you so much. Call us to set up a time to tour the space, meet our team, and ask whatever you need to ask. The person receiving services, their family or guardian, and their Case Manager are all welcome.
What makes CORE Foundations different?
We are small, locally owned, and built by people who have spent their careers in this field — including 18 years on the provider side, starting as a Direct Support Professional. Coming up through the work shapes how we run it — how we train, how we staff a day, what we expect of ourselves. It's also why we write our own life skills curriculum, including the teaching tools our staff use, which we built in house. And when you call, you reach us directly.

Careers

Join our team

We're hiring Direct Support Professionals in Topeka. No prior experience in the field is required — we train. What we can't train is showing up with patience, respect, and heart.

  • Monday through Friday, no nights or weekends. Our program runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
  • Paid training. We train you in everything you need before you work independently.
  • A small team where you're known. You'll work directly with the people who own and run this program.
  • Real relationships. You'll work with the same participants every day and see their progress firsthand.
  • Requirements. 18 or older, valid driver's license, and the ability to pass a background screening.

Direct Support Professional

Full-time & Part-time · Topeka, KS

Support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in building life skills, connecting with their community, and working toward their own goals. You'll teach, encourage, drive, problem-solve, and celebrate wins right alongside the people you support.

Apply Now Call Us

Apply in about two minutes

Tell us how to reach you and we'll follow up to set up a time to talk. If it looks like a fit, you'll come in, meet us, see the space, and fill out the full application then.

Please don't send a Social Security number, date of birth, or anything from a background check through this form. Those come later, on paper, when you're here.

Direct Support Professional

No prior experience in the field required — we train.

Get in Touch

Contact CORE Foundations

Address
432 SW Lindenwood Ave
Topeka, Kansas 66606
Business Hours
Monday – Friday · 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Send us a message

Families, guardians, Case Managers, and job seekers are all welcome to reach out. We read every message and reply quickly — usually the same business day.

Please don't include medical, diagnosis, or other private health details in this form. Give us a general idea of what you're looking for and we'll follow up by phone to talk through the specifics.

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