Strategic Care Navigation for Complex
Health Decisions and Life Transitions

Zostera Partners provides strategic guidance, compassionate care navigation, and tailored solutions at the intersection of health, care, and personal priorities.

Consulting Concierge Care Crisis Management Family Advocacy
24hr
Rapid Deployment
100%
Confidential
U.S. + Global
Geographic Reach

Founded by Jacki Jones and Maya Caldwell, Zostera Partners provides concierge-level guidance and care navigation through a highly personalized and discreet approach. With integrity at the core of our work, we help clients navigate complex care needs with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

What We Offer

A Comprehensive Suite
of Support Services

Family Care Advocacy

Strategic guidance and direct coordination with a vetted network of psychiatric, medical, and therapeutic specialists ensuring seamless, high-level care.

Therapeutic Companions

Short-term or live-in support reinforcing clinical care, accountability, and daily structure, including medication observation and routine development.

Continuing Care Coordination

Long-term oversight bridging inpatient and outpatient care, aligning clinical goals with wellness, legal, and life needs at every stage.

Integrated Care Management

Access to an ethically vetted global network of psychiatrists, therapists, and medical providers for acute mental health and substance use needs.

Recovery Coaching

Certified recovery and life-skills coaches delivering structured sessions on emotional regulation, executive functioning, and purpose-building.

Clinical Transportation

Discreet, trained escort for clinically sensitive travel, domestically or internationally, ensuring clients arrive safely and without incident.

Why Zostera Partners

The New Standard for
Tailored Care

We begin with a thorough, hands-on assessment to understand each client's unique needs and goals. From there, we design and manage a customized care plan, coordinating top specialists, personalized coaching, and companion care to ensure safety, stability, and long-term progress.

Every step is guided by clinical expertise, ethical standards, and complete discretion, giving families the confidence and peace of mind they deserve.

01

Expert Network

Access to a highly vetted referral base of qualified medical and mental health professionals nationwide.

02

Confidentiality & Discretion

A steadfast commitment to privacy ensures complete confidence in every step of care.

03

Personalized Care

Individualized recovery plans designed with compassion, discretion, and long-term impact in mind.

04

Rapid Mobilization

We can deploy a companion within 24 hours in most U.S. markets when time is critical.

05

Family-Centric

Recovery rarely happens in isolation. We involve and support the entire family system throughout.

Every journey begins with
a single confidential conversation.

We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours. Your privacy is fully protected from the first moment of contact.

About Zostera Partners

Principled Care.
Thoughtful Partnership.

We believe recovery unfolds differently for every individual. We are here to provide consistent, informed guidance across every stage of that journey.

Our Mission
"Our mission is to empower those navigating crisis to make informed, confident decisions about their care. Through honest counsel, transparent communication, and care tailored to each person's circumstances, we work collaboratively to identify and implement the plan that is right for them."
Our Story

Founded on Principle

Zostera Partners was built on the belief that individuals and families deserve a more thoughtful, coordinated approach to care than a fragmented system of referrals and handoffs can provide.

Our name is drawn from Zostera marina, a resilient seagrass that thrives in coastal environments by anchoring deeply in difficult substrates, stabilizing shorelines, and providing shelter to those around it. Like eelgrass, we root into the most challenging circumstances and bring clarity, structure, and steady guidance to complex and often uncertain situations.

Based in San Francisco and supported by a trusted national and global network, we are equipped to manage crises of any kind, combining personalized, one-on-one support with top-tier clinical expertise and complete discretion.

Core Values

The Principles That Guide
Everything We Do

I.

Integrity First

Confidentiality is non-negotiable. Every decision is made in the best interests of the client and their family system.

II.

Family-Centered

Recovery does not occur in isolation. We work closely with families as informed, collaborative partners throughout the process.

III.

Context-Responsive Care

We meet people in their own context, background, and lived experience, adapting our care to reflect who they are and what matters to them.

IV.

Research-Informed

Care plans integrate current clinical best practice. We collaborate with clinicians as partners, never in opposition.

V.

Collaborative Environment

We believe care works best when clients are true partners in the process. Every decision is made collaboratively and with their full involvement.

VI.

Earned Trust

We build trust through transparency, consistency, clear communication, and honesty.

Guiding Philosophy

Care as a Continuum,
Not an Episode

Our practice is predicated on the belief that healing and stability are built through evidence-based care, meaningful relationships, and ongoing support. We integrate clinically informed care coordination, companioning, and structured family engagement into a seamless continuum that extends well beyond episodic treatment.

We regard clinicians as collaborative partners, families as indispensable allies, and clients as active architects of their own progress. Our role is to translate hope into measurable action and remain present until individuals possess the insight, skills, and support network to sustain purposeful, autonomous lives.

Our Services

Integrated Care,
Seamlessly Delivered.

Every service is delivered through the lens of trusted relationship-building, so clients and families receive the guidance, structure, and encouragement required to grow at each stage of the journey.

Care Coordination

We act as the clinical and logistical hub for all care, a single point of accountability across fragmented systems. Our care coordinators conduct assessments, curate treatment referrals, and maintain regular contact with all providers. For families, this means one trusted advocate who coordinates every appointment and keeps clinical goals aligned with broader wellness needs.

Therapeutic Companions

Companions remain at a client's side for any duration, modeling coping strategies, reinforcing clinical directives, and providing immediate accountability. Services are tailored to clinical need and may include medication observation, structured routine development, drug screening coordination, vocational guidance, and legal team liaison. Care coordinators and companions share real-time updates to ensure seamless care across every touchpoint.

Recovery Coaching

Certified recovery and life-skills coaches deliver structured sessions on emotional regulation, executive functioning, and purpose-building. Coaching can be layered onto companioning shifts or scheduled as a stand-alone service, wherever the client is in their journey. Sessions address practical daily skills including communication, community engagement, and building the support network that sustains long-term independence.

Family Support & Guidance

We help families step out of the project-manager role and back into the relationship. Our family support services translate clinical recommendations into clear, actionable next steps, equipping loved ones with knowledge and tools for lasting stability. We maintain transparent communication throughout so families feel informed and confident at every stage.

Integrated Care Management

Access to a trusted, ethically vetted network of psychiatrists, therapists, medical doctors, neurologists, legal professionals, and addiction specialists. Every professional in our network has been evaluated for clinical excellence and ethical standards. Our network spans the United States and key international hubs, ensuring the right specialist is available wherever and whenever needed.

Clinical Transportation

When travel is clinically sensitive or logistically complex, our trained staff arrange and escort clients from door to door, domestically or internationally, ensuring they arrive safely and without incident. Transportation is fully integrated with care coordination so the continuum is never interrupted during transition. Every detail is handled with clinical care and complete discretion.

Post-Residential Monitoring

Leaving residential treatment is one of the highest-risk transitions in recovery. Our post-residential monitoring program provides structured accountability that bridges the gap between intensive treatment and independent living, including urinalysis, breathalyzer coordination, tiered check-ins, clinical reporting, and legal compliance support. Accountability is graduated over time, rewarding demonstrated stability with increasing autonomy while maintaining a reliable safety net.

Scope of Practice

Who We Work With

Substance Use & Addiction

We work with individuals and families facing substance use challenges, providing personalized support through each stage of recovery.

Mental Health & Dual Diagnosis

Professional management of dual diagnosis, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and complex co-occurring psychological needs.

Legal & Court-Related Support

Discreet companioning and care coordination for individuals in sensitive legal matters requiring accountability and protection.

Cognitive Decline & Special Needs

Specialized in-home support for clients navigating memory loss, cognitive decline, and special educational needs.

Life Transitions & Accountability

Support structures for clients navigating significant life changes, career transitions, and personal development goals.

High-Profile & Executive Clients

White-glove discretion for legal, executive, or high-visibility clients who require the utmost in confidentiality.

Our Approach

One Seamless
Continuum.

Our process is intentional, clinically informed, and transparent. Each stage flows naturally into the next, building understanding and delivering support tailored to the client's evolving needs.

How It Works

Every client engagement flows through a connected pathway — from the first confidential call through long-term support. Each stage is designed to build on the last, with no gaps, no handoffs, and no detail overlooked.

Guiding Pillars

Clinical Rigor

We base decisions on current best practices and measurable outcomes.

Relational Integrity

We stay present, responsive, and attentive in every interaction.

Family Partnership

We communicate openly so families feel informed, involved, and supported.

01

Initial Consultation

We begin with a confidential consultation to understand the client's clinical history, current circumstances, level of urgency, and practical considerations. Within 24 hours, we provide clear recommendations and next steps.

02

Comprehensive Evaluation

We coordinate and review biopsychosocial assessments and, when appropriate, psychological testing to gain a complete understanding of the client's needs. These insights guide a personalized care plan tailored to clinical needs, personal goals, and available support systems.

03

Care Plan Alignment

The care coordinator collaborates with clients, families, and treatment professionals to align on goals, expectations, communication preferences, and other important considerations. This process helps ensure everyone remains informed, supported, and working toward the same objectives throughout care.

04

Service Coordination & Transition

We facilitate treatment placement, transportation logistics, and additional supportive services tailored to each client's needs. Every detail is managed with care to create a seamless transition and a consistent point of contact throughout the process.

05

Ongoing Support

Your care coordinator remains actively involved throughout the process, maintaining communication with providers, monitoring progress, and adjusting support as needs evolve. We provide ongoing advocacy for the client, while families and other involved parties receive consistent updates and guidance tailored to their preferred level of involvement.

06

Continuing Care

As treatment needs evolve over time, we refine ongoing support plans, strengthen long-term resources, and ensure continuity of care throughout each stage of recovery and transition. As clients move closer toward resumed independence and autonomy, services are thoughtfully adjusted to support continued growth, long-term stability, and lasting success.

Why Integrated Support

The Missing Layer
Most Systems Lack

Recovery depends on more than clinical care. Coordinated support and companioning is the connective tissue that keeps every piece of the journey connected, and empowers families to step back into the relationship rather than the logistics.

Continuous Care

People who remain connected to support longer have measurably better outcomes. A dedicated coordinator monitors progress, removes roadblocks, and maintains engagement.

Treat the Whole Person

Housing, career, legal support. Our approach tackles them alongside clinical care so sobriety can thrive while basic needs are also met.

One Clear Pathway

Instead of juggling referrals and intake forms, clients rely on a single advocate who coordinates every appointment and ensures the care plan runs smoothly.

Nimble & Forward-Looking

Recovery is not linear. Our team anticipates relapse risks, adjusts intensity of support, and pivots quickly when life changes course.

Our Team

Two Disciplines.
One Commitment.

Our team comprises highly educated, deeply experienced professionals whose shared values of compassion, discretion, and integrity drive everything we do.

Jacki Jones, Co-Founder of Zostera Partners
Jacki Jones
Co-Founder

Jacki is a behavioral health navigator and care strategist specializing in complex mental health, substance use, and cognitive care needs. Drawing on her experience at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and more than a decade of leadership experience spanning healthcare and business development, she brings a rare blend of clinical insight, strategic problem-solving, and deeply personalized care to every client relationship.

Known for her high-touch, concierge approach, Jacki helps individuals, families, and business leaders navigate some of life's most challenging transitions with clarity, confidence, and support. From acute crises to long-term recovery and stabilization, she serves as a trusted advisor, coordinating care, simplifying complex decisions, and ensuring no detail is overlooked.

Her ability to build trust quickly, communicate with candor and compassion, and advocate relentlessly for those in her care has made her a valued partner to clients seeking expert guidance through an often overwhelming healthcare landscape.

Maya Caldwell, Co-Founder of Zostera Partners
Maya Caldwell
Co-Founder

Maya is a recovery strategist and care navigator specializing in clinical and non-clinical support across mental health, substance use, and complex life transitions. Drawing on her background in residential treatment work, companioning, and coaching, as well as experience spanning tech, media, and nonprofit sectors, she brings a grounded, evidence-based approach and a deeply personalized presence to every client relationship.

Raised in Honolulu and shaped by experience across multiple cities and international settings, Maya approaches her work with a broad, adaptable perspective and a genuine respect for individual context. She develops and oversees comprehensive recovery plans that support client autonomy, align goals, and promote long-term stability, ensuring clarity and continuity at every stage.

Known for her consistency, attention to detail, humility, and care, Maya helps clients move through demanding transitions with confidence and practical direction. Her ability to meet people where they are, communicate with honesty and warmth, and advocate for sustained independence has made her a trusted partner to those navigating challenging landscapes.

For Professionals

Why Professionals
Refer to Us

We are trusted by therapists, treatment centers, attorneys, and physicians who need a reliable, discreet partner for their clients.

  • Single-point accountabilityacross fragmented treatment and social service systems.
  • White-glove discretionfor legal, executive, or high-visibility clients who require complete confidentiality.
  • Rapid mobilizationwithin 24 hours in most U.S. hubs when the situation demands immediate action.
  • Holistic clinical lensthat factors medical, legal, social, and cultural variables into every care decision.
  • Evidence-based frameworkaligned with SAMHSA principles and current clinical best practices.
Apply to Work With Us

Work With Us as a
Companion or Coach

We are always looking to connect with qualified, compassionate professionals interested in companion and coaching work. If you have a background in recovery support, clinical care, social work, or coaching, we would love to hear from you.

We value lived experience, cultural competence, and a genuine commitment to client wellbeing. All inquiries are handled with discretion.

Confidential application.Your information will only be reviewed by Jacki and Maya and will never be shared with third parties.

Express Your Interest

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

Your application is confidential.

Get in Touch

Every journey begins
with one conversation.

We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours. Your privacy is fully protected from the first moment of contact.

Reach Us

Confidential &
Always Discreet

Whether you are a family in crisis, a referring professional, or an individual seeking support, we are ready to listen, without judgment, and respond with clarity and care.

Our services are offered on a private retainer basis. Contact us to discuss a customized arrangement.

info@zosterapartners.com

San Francisco, CA
National & international coverage available

Response within 24 hours
Note urgency in your message for immediate matters

Your privacy is paramount.All communications are treated with strict confidentiality. We will never share your information with any third party without your explicit consent.

Send a Message

All fields are confidential. We will be in touch within 24 hours.

Your message is secure and confidential.

Resources

Guidance for
Families & Individuals

Practical insight and honest guidance for navigating complex care decisions and recovery transitions.

Recovery & Family Support

What to Do When a Loved One Leaves Residential Treatment

The transition out of residential care is one of the highest-risk periods in recovery. For families, the question of how to bridge that gap, how to maintain momentum without recreating the dynamics that contributed to the crisis in the first place, often has no clear answer. This article is for families navigating that moment.

Read Article →
Care Navigation

What to Look for in a Care Coordinator

Finding the right care coordinator is worth the time it takes. This article walks through what to look for beyond the initial conversation, the questions worth asking, and how to recognize someone who will genuinely show up for you.

Read Article →
Recovery & Family Support

What to Do When a Loved One Leaves Residential Treatment

Discharge day from a residential treatment program often arrives with a complicated mix of emotions. Relief that your loved one completed treatment. Hope that things will be different this time. And beneath both of those, a familiar, underlying anxiety about what comes next.

That anxiety is well-founded. The transition out of residential care is widely recognized as one of the highest-risk periods in recovery. The structure, accountability, and clinical support that defined the past 30, 60, or 90 days do not follow your loved one home. For many families, the question of how to bridge that gap, how to maintain momentum without recreating the dynamics that contributed to the crisis in the first place, has no clear answer.

This article is for families navigating that moment.

Why the Post-Discharge Period Is So Critical

Research consistently shows that the weeks immediately following discharge from residential treatment carry the greatest risk of relapse. The reasons are not complicated. After weeks or months in a structured environment with daily therapy, peer support, supervised routines, and distance from old triggers, the return to everyday life can feel abrupt and disorienting, for the individual in recovery and for the family around them.

Old environments, familiar relationships, unresolved stressors, and the absence of structured support can all converge quickly. Without a thoughtful continuing care plan in place before discharge, many individuals find themselves without adequate support at exactly the moment they are most vulnerable.

What a Strong Continuing Care Plan Looks Like

Before your loved one is discharged, the treatment team should provide a continuing care plan. If you have not seen one, ask for it. A strong plan will typically include outpatient therapy or an intensive outpatient program, peer support, psychiatric follow-up if medication is involved, and clear guidance on what to do in the event of a crisis or relapse.

What many discharge plans do not address is the layer of support that sits between clinical appointments. The day-to-day accountability, structure, and guidance that helps someone actually live the plan rather than simply have one on paper. That gap is where families often struggle most, and where professional support can make the greatest difference.

The Role Your Family Can and Cannot Play

Family members want to help. That instinct is natural and important. But there is a meaningful difference between being a source of love and connection for your loved one and serving as their primary accountability structure, crisis manager, and care coordinator.

When families take on that latter role, monitoring medication, managing appointments, tracking behavior, anticipating relapse, the relationship suffers. The person in recovery can begin to feel surveilled rather than supported. Family members become exhausted and resentful. The emotional closeness that is actually essential to long-term recovery gets crowded out by logistics and vigilance.

One of the most valuable things a family can do in the post-discharge period is to step out of the project manager role and back into the relationship. That means trusting a professional to handle coordination and clinical liaison so that interactions with your loved one can be about connection rather than compliance.

What Professional Post-Discharge Support Can Include

Depending on the individual's needs, professional continuing care support can take many forms. A care coordinator can serve as a consistent point of contact across all providers, outpatient therapist, psychiatrist, primary care physician, and sober support, ensuring that everyone is communicating and that the care plan remains coherent as circumstances evolve.

A therapeutic companion or sober support professional can provide in-person accountability and structure during the hours and days that clinical appointments do not cover. This might include accompanying the individual to appointments, supporting the development of daily routines, coaching around life skills and community integration, and serving as an early indicator if warning signs begin to emerge.

Post-residential monitoring programs can provide structured accountability through regular check-ins, drug screening coordination, and documentation, giving families and clinical teams assurance that progress is being maintained without placing that burden on the family relationship.

Questions to Ask Before Discharge

As discharge approaches, these are the questions worth having answered.

What does the first 72 hours look like, and who is responsible for what? Has outpatient care been scheduled and confirmed, or only recommended? What is the plan if a crisis occurs, and who should the family call? Is there a professional who will maintain continuity across all providers? What level of family involvement is clinically recommended, and in what capacity?

If you do not have clear answers to these questions, it is worth requesting a family meeting with the treatment team before discharge. The more clearly the transition is planned, the better the outcome is likely to be.

You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone

Navigating the period after residential treatment is rarely straightforward. The clinical landscape is fragmented, the emotional stakes are high, and the guidance available to families is often too general to address the specifics of what you are actually facing.

Zostera Partners works with individuals and families at exactly this stage, helping to design and implement continuing care plans that bridge the gap between residential treatment and sustainable independent living. We handle the coordination, the monitoring, the clinical liaison, and the logistics, so that families can focus on what only they can provide: presence, connection, and love.

If your loved one is approaching discharge or has recently returned home and you are uncertain about the next step, we are here to help. Reach out for a confidential conversation. There is no obligation, and no question is too early or too late to ask.

Get in Touch

Ready to talk through next steps?

We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours. Your privacy is fully protected.

Care Navigation

What to Look for in a Care Coordinator

Finding the right support for a complex health situation is not always straightforward. When care involves mental health, substance use, cognitive decline, or a difficult life transition, the stakes are high and the options can feel overwhelming. Finding the right care coordinator is worth the time it takes. The person you choose will be navigating some of your most important decisions alongside you.

This article is for individuals and families who are considering working with a care coordinator and want to understand what to look for beyond the initial conversation, what questions to ask, and how to recognize someone who will genuinely show up for you.

What a Care Coordinator Actually Does

Before evaluating anyone, it helps to be clear on what the role actually involves. A care coordinator is not a therapist, and they are not a referral service. The role sits at the intersection of clinical knowledge, practical problem-solving, and real human presence.

A skilled coordinator helps you understand your options, make informed decisions, and put together a coherent plan across what is often a fragmented and confusing network of providers and services. They stay involved as things evolve. They communicate with everyone who needs to be in the loop. And they adapt when circumstances change, because in this kind of work, they always do.

At a personalized level, this is not about routing people through a standard process. It is about understanding who someone is, what they need, what has and has not worked before, and what a realistic path forward actually looks like for them specifically.

Clinical Knowledge, Used Appropriately

The first thing to look for is someone who understands the clinical landscape without overstepping into it. A good care coordinator knows enough about mental health, substance use, medication, and treatment options to ask the right questions, identify gaps in a care plan, and speak credibly with providers on your behalf. But they are not practicing therapy or medicine, and they should not present themselves as doing so.

This matters more than it might seem. Someone who overstates their clinical authority may make decisions that belong to a licensed provider. Someone who understates their knowledge may not be able to effectively navigate the complexity your situation actually requires. The right person holds both with clarity, and they are comfortable telling you exactly where their role begins and ends.

Experience That Matches Your Situation

Care coordination covers a wide range of situations. Some coordinators specialize in older adults and cognitive decline. Others focus primarily on substance use and recovery. Others work across mental health, medical complexity, and significant life transitions.

It is worth asking directly what kinds of situations someone has experience with, and whether that experience maps to what you are facing. The best coordinators are honest about where their expertise is strongest and will tell you clearly if a situation falls outside their area. That kind of candor is itself a good sign.

Transparency About How They Work and What They Charge

A trustworthy coordinator is upfront about how they work and what it costs. Fees should be explained plainly, and the scope of services should be clearly defined. You should know what is included, what is not, and what happens if your needs change. It is also worth understanding whether a coordinator has any financial relationships with the providers they recommend. A straightforward conversation about how they get paid and how they make referral decisions will tell you a great deal about how they operate.

The Quality of the Relationship

More than almost any other professional relationship, the effectiveness of a care coordinator depends on trust. The person you work with will be asking questions about some of the most difficult aspects of your life or your family's situation. They will be speaking with providers on your behalf. They will be present, in various forms, during some of your most stressful moments.

Trust is not a soft consideration in this work. It is the foundation everything else is built on. It requires honesty on both sides and works best when there is genuine rapport from the start.

A Collaborative Orientation

A strong coordinator understands that their role is one part of a larger picture. They work alongside therapists, physicians, and other providers rather than around them. And they approach their work as a support to the client's own decision-making, not a substitute for it.

Questions Worth Asking

When you sit down with someone you are considering, the conversation itself will tell you a great deal. Here are the questions worth asking.

What kinds of situations do you work with most, and does mine fall within that range? A good answer is specific and honest about fit.

How do you typically structure your involvement, and how do you stay in contact? This reveals whether their approach is active and engaged or more passive.

How do you work with the other providers involved in someone's care? You want to hear about collaboration and communication, not hierarchy.

What happens if a crisis arises or the situation changes significantly? Understand their availability and their process when things do not go as planned.

Can you tell me about a situation where you had to navigate something particularly complex? Listen for specificity and thoughtfulness in the answer.

What does success look like to you in this kind of work? The best answers to this question point toward the same place. A client who has built enough confidence, clarity, and independence that they no longer need a care coordinator. That is what success actually looks like in this work.

What Zostera Partners Brings to This Work

At Zostera Partners, we founded this practice on the belief that individuals and families deserve honest, informed, and deeply personalized guidance through some of life's most demanding situations. We do not believe in generic approaches. We take the time to understand who you are, what you are facing, and what a realistic path forward looks like for you specifically.

We are transparent about how we work and what we charge. We are honest about the limits of our role. And for the people we work with, we show up fully, communicate clearly, and stay present for the duration.

If you are in the process of thinking through your options, we welcome the conversation. Reach out confidentially and we will take the time to understand your situation before offering any recommendations.

Get in Touch

Ready to talk through next steps?

We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours. Your privacy is fully protected.