The people who know someone best can help build the team that supports them.
MyCircle helps individuals, families, guardians, and trusted supporters build qualified support teams around people with developmental disabilities. The individual and their circle can identify trusted people who already understand their routines, communication, personality, and needs. MyCircle helps qualified candidates complete the employment, screening, training, and onboarding process required to become Direct Support Professionals.
Candidate employment, paid hours, and services depend on applicable screening, qualifications, authorization, the individual's plan, and program requirements.
Supported Living is built around the individual. The type, schedule and amount of support depend on the person's goals, assessed needs, living situation, available generic resources and Planning Team process.
Supported Living built around trusted relationships.
Supported Living Services help eligible people with developmental disabilities receive individualized assistance in a home of their own. MyCircle approaches Supported Living by beginning with the relationships already surrounding the individual.
Parents, siblings, relatives, friends, former support workers, neighbors, and other trusted people may understand the individual in ways that take an unfamiliar Direct Support Professional months or years to learn. The individual and their circle can help identify those trusted people, and MyCircle can evaluate whether they qualify to become Direct Support Professionals on the support team.
MyCircle then provides the professional infrastructure surrounding that team — including employment, screening, training, payroll, documentation, supervision, scheduling support, and service coordination.
Trusted people carry knowledge that cannot be replaced.
Knowledge that matters
Families and long-term supporters often understand the details that make support successful: how the individual communicates, what causes anxiety, what builds trust, how routines work, which relationships matter, and what a good day looks like.
Familiarity creates continuity
When trusted people who already know and care about the individual become part of the support team, families and circle members may be able to preserve those relationships while adding professional structure and accountability.
MyCircle's operating system
Caring deeply is the foundation. Reliable, professional support also requires screening, training, documentation, accountability, payroll, coordination, and ongoing support. MyCircle provides that structure.
Is a circle-built support team right for you?
MyCircle's approach may be especially valuable for individuals and families who already provide substantial daily support, know trusted people who may become strong Direct Support Professionals, have experienced staff turnover, are uncomfortable beginning with unfamiliar agency staff, want greater involvement in building the support team, need help turning informal support into a qualified structure, or want professional employment and operational support surrounding the team.
Whether SLS is appropriate, and what services may be authorized, is determined through the applicable Regional Center and Planning Team process.
A home of their own choosing.
People supported through SLS live in their own home — for example, an apartment or house of their choosing, alone, with a roommate, or near family — rather than in a licensed group or facility setting. The specific arrangement depends on the individual's preferences, resources and plan.
What support can look like.
- Daily living skills and household routines
- Meal planning, cooking, and grocery shopping
- Managing appointments and personal business
- Getting around the community and using transportation
- Building and maintaining relationships
- Learning new skills toward greater independence
- Safety planning and emergency preparedness
- Participating in work and community life, as applicable
The individual and their circle help MyCircle understand how these supports work in real life. MyCircle helps ensure the qualified team can deliver and document them appropriately.
The individual is surrounded by people who know them.
Every individual communicates preferences and needs differently. Families, guardians, conservators, authorized representatives, and trusted supporters may carry years of knowledge about how the individual communicates, makes decisions, experiences the world, and receives support most successfully.
MyCircle brings that knowledge into team development while respecting the individual's rights, preferences, communication, legal decision-making arrangements, and approved service plan.
Who decides what support is authorized?
Eligibility, assessed needs and authorized support levels are determined by the Regional Center through the individual's Planning Team process — not by MyCircle alone. MyCircle proposes a support approach and participates in that process, but authorization is a Regional Center decision.
How does MyCircle participate?
MyCircle participates in assessment, proposes a support plan built around the individual, recruits and matches support staff, and delivers and coordinates services once authorization and staffing are in place — communicating with the individual, family, Service Coordinator and Planning Team throughout.
One circle, with different types of support.
Circle-built SLS team
Qualified family-referred or community-referred Direct Support Professionals employed and supported by MyCircle to provide authorized SLS services.
MyCircle-recruited employees
Additional qualified team members recruited by MyCircle when more coverage or specific capabilities are needed.
IHSS workers
Where applicable, IHSS workers provide authorized personal support under a separate employment and payment structure. MyCircle is not the employer of IHSS workers.
Family and natural support
Relationships and unpaid assistance that remain part of the individual's life but are separate from billable services.
Planning Team
The individual, family or authorized representative as applicable, Service Coordinator, and other participants involved in developing the approved support arrangement.
From trusted relationships to a qualified support team.
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The individual or their circle starts the conversation
The individual, family, guardian, conservator, or authorized representative contacts MyCircle and explains the current support situation.
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We understand the individual and their circle
MyCircle learns about routines, communication, support needs, existing relationships, current responsibilities, and coverage gaps.
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The circle identifies trusted candidates
The individual and their circle help identify relatives, friends, neighbors, former workers, or community members who may be a strong fit for a Direct Support Professional role.
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Candidates apply and qualify
MyCircle evaluates candidates through the applicable application, interview, background-clearance, reference, training, and employment process.
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The Planning Team establishes authorized support
MyCircle participates in assessment and planning while the applicable Regional Center and Planning Team determine authorized services and hours.
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MyCircle builds the employment infrastructure
Approved employees are onboarded for payroll, timekeeping, documentation, scheduling, supervision, training, and ongoing support.
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Services begin
Qualified team members begin providing authorized services after the required approval and onboarding steps are complete.
- 08
The circle and MyCircle strengthen the team
MyCircle works with the individual, family, authorized representatives, Direct Support Professionals, and Planning Team to address performance, training, coverage, and changing needs.
Services and authorized support levels vary by individual and are determined through the applicable assessment, planning and authorization process. MyCircle does not promise a particular service, schedule, number of hours, staff member, start date, or authorization.
Questions people ask.
Who is eligible for Supported Living Services?
Eligibility for SLS is determined by the Regional Center through each person's individual assessment and planning process. Your Service Coordinator can confirm whether SLS fits your specific plan.
Where would I live?
In a home of your own choosing — SLS is designed to support people living independently, not in a group or facility setting.
Can I choose my own support staff?
People served have input into staff matching wherever possible, though final scheduling depends on staff availability and approved hours.
How does IHSS fit in?
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) may be part of the overall support picture for some individuals, alongside SLS and other generic resources. Your Service Coordinator can help you understand how these fit together for your situation.
What areas does MyCircle serve?
MyCircle provides Supported Living Services across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties under TCRC vendor HT0983.
How long does it take to start service?
Timing depends on the assessment, authorization, and staffing process for each individual — we can't promise a single fixed timeline.
What does Supported Living cost?
SLS is funded through the Regional Center system based on each person's approved authorization. Contact your Service Coordinator for details specific to your plan.
How do I get started?
Talk with your Tri-Counties Regional Center Service Coordinator about a referral, or reach out to MyCircle directly to start the conversation.