Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanee And Daphanee Harbert.
Stephanee and Daphanee, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Stillwaters Consulting was born from real experience, real setbacks, and a genuine desire to help others avoid unnecessary struggle.
Before we became consultants, we were service providers. Our journey began with opening an Adult Residential Facility serving individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout the Los Angeles region. We didn’t enter this work chasing titles or recognition—we entered it because we truly wanted to serve and build something meaningful in our community.
The seed was planted in January 2018, when our godmother introduced us to the residential care industry. At the time, we were both working in corporate America. Entrepreneurship felt intimidating and uncertain, but we took the leap anyway, trusting the process even when it felt uncomfortable.
By February 2020, just as the world was shutting down, we opened our first home in the middle of the pandemic. What we didn’t anticipate was how challenging the road ahead would become.
Even with a fully operational home, placements didn’t come easily. We began to understand that there were parts of the system no one openly talks about—timing, experience, and relationships played a much larger role than we had been prepared for.
As we worked to stabilize, we were met with additional unexpected hurdles, including having to restart our home in a different region. What we hoped would be a fresh start led instead to more red tape, delays, unanswered questions, and an extended season of uncertainty with very little support or advocacy.
It was during that time we asked ourselves a simple but powerful question: How many other providers are going through this alone?
Out of those experiences, Stillwaters Consulting, along with our educational platform, Group Home Pros One-on-One, was created. Everything we learned through trial and error became a framework we could share—offering clarity, strategy, and steady guidance to providers who genuinely want to serve.
Today, it’s an honor to support providers and entrepreneurs building residential care homes with integrity, especially in underserved communities. Our story isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about staying committed, learning through challenges, and continuing forward.
If there’s one thing we hope readers take away, it’s this: you’re not alone, and your vision is still worth pursuing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — and that’s an important part of our journey.
One of the biggest challenges early on was relocating from Dallas, Texas to Los Angeles, California to open our first residential care home. Los Angeles was unfamiliar territory. We didn’t know the neighborhoods, the market, or the local dynamics, and outside of family, we had no established network. Every day felt like starting from scratch.
I remember spending long hours driving across Los Angeles, going from neighborhood after neighborhood, trying to make the right connections and hoping to hear “yes” from a landlord willing to rent a home for our business. Those drives were filled with uncertainty, but also determination — we believed in what we were building, even when the path forward wasn’t clear.
At the same time, we were building everything from the ground up. We were at Home Depot almost daily, finding contractors, shopping for furniture, and visiting places like Habitat for Humanity to furnish the home thoughtfully and affordably. Many nights stretched past midnight as we reviewed paperwork with our mentor and made sure every detail was right.
When we finally found a landlord willing to give us a chance, the work intensified. We were often at the home until two in the morning assembling furniture, setting up beds, organizing staff and consumer files, and preparing for fire inspection and our Community Care Licensing (CCLD) visit.
The struggle was real. Even with significant pushback from the Regional Center we chose — including being told we might not be approved at the level we applied for, which was a Level 4I home — we stayed determined. Out of that resilience, we were able to do what we love most: serve individuals with intellectual disabilities in our community by providing homes that are loving, supportive, person-centered, and thoughtfully designed to meet their service needs — while also creating meaningful employment for people in the Los Angeles area so they can provide for their families.
Those challenges gave us perspective and strength. The road wasn’t smooth, but it shaped us — and it’s why we’re now able to support others through Stillwaters Consulting and Group Home Pros One-on-One with clarity, care, and real-world experience.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Stillwaters Consulting, LLC was born from real-life experience. We saw so many people with big hearts who wanted to open residential care homes but felt overwhelmed by the rules, the paperwork, and the fear of getting it wrong. We created Stillwaters to provide clarity, structure, and real guidance.
Today, we support providers across Los Angeles, California and Texas, helping them open and operate Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs) in California and Home and Community-based Services (HCS) group homes in the Dallas area. We also assist with small-business setup and offer educational tools and digital products so providers can move forward with confidence.
Through Stillwaters Consulting and our Group Home Pros One-on-One platform, we walk alongside providers at every stage of their journey. We don’t teach from theory — we guide from real-life experience, with honesty, transparency, and care.
Our brand is built on integrity, clear communication, and real support. No gatekeeping. No shortcuts. Just guidance for people who want to serve with purpose and do it the right way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in good or bad luck. I believe in preparation, persistence, and purpose. What some may call “bad luck” were really lessons that strengthened us, and what others call “good luck” came from staying consistent and being ready when opportunity met preparation. For us, it has always been about faith, patience, and trusting the process.
Pricing:
- At this time, pricing varies based on the type of support and services needed. We offer customized consulting, education, and training options, and pricing is discussed individually to ensure the right fit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stillwaterscllc.org/ and https://ghpro101.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grp101
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557052493551
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/group-home-pros-llc-0b2a1a394
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroupHomePros1-on1withStephane
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/stillwaters-consulting-cypress
- Other: https://linktr.ee/stephaneegrp101
Image Credits
Professional Photos done by: The Charlene Thompson with Resolve Creative Solutions Dallas, TX
Candid Photos done by: Stephanee Harbert
