The Department of Disability and Aging Services commission voted Jan. 8 to fund three pilot “support circle” programs and to authorize one‑time modifications to existing community services agreements to address discrete needs such as language access, transportation and program operations.

Mike Zogg, program director in DAS’s Office of Community Partnerships, described the support‑circle pilots as small, professionally facilitated group programs focused on topics such as mindfulness, anxiety and depression, and transitions associated with aging. The commission authorized grant agreements covering Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2026 for an aggregate base amount of $60,000 plus a 10% contingency for a revised total not to exceed $66,000. Funded grantees are the Richmond Senior Center (Richmond District), Next Village (Northeast neighborhoods) and Stepping Stone in partnership with Curry Senior Center (Tenderloin/Mission Bay). Zogg said the department will track attendance, survey participants and evaluate demand before considering expansion.

Janet Crane, co‑founder of Next Village, spoke in support of the pilot and outlined the group’s proposed session design. Commissioners asked about language access; Zogg said proposals were primarily English‑led and that Next Village had budgeted for an interpreter to accommodate Cantonese speakers; he and staff said non‑English offerings could be considered if demand and proposals materialize in future rounds.

Separately, DAS presented a modification to ongoing community services grants to allocate one‑time and cost‑of‑doing‑business funds to several providers using Dignity Fund savings. Analyst Alex Tanquilut said the modifications total an additional $481,590 plus a 10% contingency for a revised maximum of $8,801,192 across the portfolio. The allocation included funding for a full‑time Cantonese/Mandarin digital navigator and program assistant at Curry Senior Center to meet rising demand from Chinese‑language clients; a dedicated driver at Mission Neighborhood Centers to address transportation barriers that had constrained participation; and ongoing operational support for Kotobuki Taiko drumming classes at YMCA Stonestown (studio rental, equipment replacement and master‑teacher consulting).

Commissioners approved both the pilot grants and the portfolio modification by roll call without recorded no votes. Members also discussed how centers and community providers could document safety and transit concerns to coordinate with municipal transit planning.

The grants and modifications were presented as one‑time expenditures funded from existing savings; DAS staff emphasized these allocations are not ongoing base funding and that future continuation would require separate decisions.