Three Rivers

What Three Rivers does

Three Rivers Inc. (d/b/a 3Rivers) is a Kansas-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) Center for Independent Living founded in 1986, headquartered in Wamego with four satellite offices across Northeast Kansas. The organization serves persons with disabilities, seniors, and transition-aged youth (ages 14-21) across 13 counties, delivering a portfolio of nine core programs: Independent Living services, Home Care Options, Self-Directed Home Care with Fiscal Management Services, a free Medical Equipment Loan Program, Accessibility Consulting, Youth Transition services (Pre-ETS and My Transition My Career), the Kansas Telecommunications Access Program (TAP), Vocational Services, and a Direct Service Worker program. Its core operational model is a consumer-driven self-direction framework in which individuals with disabilities hire, train, and direct their own in-home care workers, while 3Rivers acts as fiscal management agent, handling payroll, taxes, workers compensation, and unemployment insurance.

The underlying technology footprint is intentionally light: a website, newsletter, and Facebook presence for outreach, plus the AuthentiCare (Fiserv) platform for Direct Service Worker time tracking and billing. There is no proprietary software product, no mobile app, and no public API. Service delivery is relationship-intensive and location-based, with five physical offices (Wamego, Atchison, Clay Center, Junction City, and Mayetta on Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation land) enabling in-person access across a largely rural service region.

The business model is grant-dependent. Most services are free to consumers, funded by local, state, and federal grants from the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the Federal Administration for Community Living, the U.S. Department of Education, and Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) via the KanCare managed care program. A small private-pay Home Care Options tier and a $20 Direct Service Worker background check fee provide minor ancillary revenue. The organization is governed such that the majority of staff and Board members are persons with disabilities, reinforcing its consumer-driven orientation rooted in the Independent Living philosophy.

Name

Three Rivers

Legal name

Three Rivers Inc.

Website

https://threeriversinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Three Rivers is a nonprofit Center for Independent Living in Northeast Kansas, founded in 1986, that provides disability and senior services — including self-directed home care, medical equipment loans, accessibility consulting, and youth transition programs — across 13 counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Companion Care & Social Support (non-clinical) (HLADAGAB), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Independent Living with Supportive Services (Light ADL/IADL Support) (HLADAAAE)

Keywords

• Independent living services
• Disability services
• In-home care
• Fiscal management services
• Accessibility consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Wamego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Most services are free to consumers, funded by local, state, and federal grants including grants from the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Federal Administration for Community Living.
2. Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS): Medicaid HCBS programs pay for self-directed in-home care services for qualifying individuals. 3Rivers serves as fiscal management services provider.
3. Private Pay / Self-Pay: Affordable options for individuals choosing to pay for services themselves rather than relying on government programs.
4. Private Insurance: Some individuals have private insurance that covers all or a portion of their worker's expenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Three Rivers operates a Center for Independent Living that provides a suite of disability and senior services in Northeast Kansas. Its core offerings include the Independent Living Program (skills training, peer counseling, information and referral, advocacy, vocational services), Home Care Options and Self-Directed Home Care with Fiscal Management Services (consumer-directed in-home care with payroll and tax administration), a free Medical Equipment Loan Program, Accessibility Consulting, Youth Transition Services (Pre-ETS and My Transition My Career), the Kansas Telecommunications Access Program (TAP), and Vocational Services. Most services are free to consumers, funded by federal, state, and local grants, with private pay and private insurance options for in-home care.

Product overview

3Rivers is a non-profit Center for Independent Living providing a comprehensive suite of disability services across Northeast Kansas. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected programs including the Independent Living Program, Home Care Options, Self-Directed Home Care with Fiscal Management Services, Medical Equipment Loan Program, Accessibility Consulting, Youth Transition Services, Kansas Telecommunications Access Program (TAP), and Vocational Services. These programs work together to empower persons with disabilities and seniors to live, work, and be active members of their communities through services funded by local, state, and federal grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Independent Living Program A comprehensive program offering independent living skills training, information and referral, transition services, peer counseling, vocational services, telecommunications access, and individual and community advocacy for persons with disabilities.
• Home Care Options An individually tailored and affordable in-home assistance program where 3Rivers helps develop service plans and hire attendants, processing payroll and administrative responsibilities on behalf of the consumer.
• Self-Directed Home Care Services (Fiscal Management Services) A self-direction service model allowing persons with disabilities to oversee and manage in-home services, with 3Rivers providing administrative payroll functions including time tracking, wages, taxes, workers compensation, and unemployment insurance.
• Medical Equipment Loan Program A free loan program providing medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, canes, portable commodes, ramps, toilet seat risers, and crutches to anyone in need.
• Accessibility Consulting Free or low-cost accessibility assessments for businesses, schools, organizations, individuals building or remodeling homes, churches, and local government entities to assist with barrier removal and ADA compliance.
• Youth Transition Services Programs including My Transition My Career (MTMC) and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) that help youth with disabilities transition from school to employment and community participation.
• Kansas Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) A free program for Kansas residents who have difficulty hearing, seeing, speaking, remembering, walking, or holding a telephone, providing assistive telecommunications equipment to those with income under $55,000 per year.
• Vocational Services Employment-related services including Work Opportunities Reward Kansans, Pre-Employment Transition Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation partnership with Kansas Department for Children and Families.
• Direct Service Worker Program A program linking individuals with disabilities who need in-home assistance with dependable, caring workers, providing fiscal agent services for consumers including payroll, background checks, and tax processing.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner3Rivers collaborates with Habitat for Humanity to install or build ramps and stair railings for consumers who need home accessibility modifications.
• Kansas Department for Children and FamiliescoreOthersGrant funding provided to expand services to Leavenworth County. The department administers Vocational Rehabilitation programs and other disability services in Kansas.
• Kansas Youth Transition NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network focused on improving experiences and outcomes of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they transition between school and working in the community.
• My Transition My Career (MTMC) - Flint Hills AreacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3Rivers facilitates the Flint Hills area MTMC program focused on supporting communities to enhance collaborations across existing local systems to improve outcomes for transition-aged youth with disabilities.
• Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)coreOthersFederal and state Medicaid program that provides funding for self-directed in-home care services for qualifying individuals with disabilities and seniors.
• KanCarecoreOthersKansas Medicaid managed care program providing healthcare coverage. KanCare Ombudsmen provides resources by county for members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Public Partnerships LLC (PPL): Large national fiscal management services (FMS) provider for Medicaid self-directed HCBS programs. Most directly comparable to 3Rivers on the FMS/self-direction component, competing for state-level KanCare and other-Medicaid FMS contracts.
• GT Independence: Fiscal employer agent and self-direction services provider for Medicaid HCBS waivers in multiple states. Closely comparable to 3Rivers' Home Care Options / Self-Directed Home Care FMS offering and competing for similar KanCare consumers.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National network of affiliates delivering independent living, employment supports and home-based services to people with disabilities. Comparable to 3Rivers' IL, vocational and home-care programming at affiliate/network scale.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability and aging services including independent living, vocational rehabilitation and home accessibility — overlapping 3Rivers' IL, vocational, accessibility consulting and equipment-loan services at much larger scale.
• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, employment supports and community living programs. Comparable mission and funder ecosystem to 3Rivers' Disability Services and Independent Living programs.
• Meals on Wheels America: National nonprofit supporting community-based aging-in-place services (nutrition, companionship, home modifications). Comparable to 3Rivers' senior-facing Home Care Options, accessibility and community programming for older adults in Northeast Kansas.

Regional players

• Topeka Independent Living Resource Center: Another designated Center for Independent Living serving northeast Kansas. Most directly comparable peer operating in the same state and overlapping service territory with 3Rivers' IL and HCBS programming.
• Independence, Inc. Center for Independent Living serving northeast Kansas (Lawrence/Topeka area). Overlaps directly with 3Rivers' IL, home-modification and self-direction programming in the same Kansas geography.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: Nonprofit focused on employment, leadership development and community living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable to 3Rivers' Pre-ETS, vocational and community-integration services for transition-aged youth.

Others

• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National membership association that represents, certifies and funds Centers for Independent Living including 3Rivers. Comparable ecosystem context (CIL grantor, federal advocacy) rather than direct competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ThreeRiversInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/three-rivers-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Three Rivers