In 2017, Adventist Health's Community Integration team launched 'Project Restoration' to address community needs identified through consultations with local leaders. The initiative focuses on individuals in Lake County, California, who frequently rely on community services, tackling the root causes of homelessness and related challenges. The program brings together rural service providers and community organizations, including government agencies, law enforcement, fire/EMS, and behavioral health providers, to coordinate care for patients who often depend on services like police or EMS. Enrollment in the program is based on the frequent use of multiple community systems, ensuring that those with the greatest needs receive targeted support. Adventist Health has helped reduce the strain on hospitals and community response systems by adopting this holistic approach.
Why We Did It
Adventist Health created Project Restoration to address the significant challenges facing Lake County, one of the poorest counties in California. The county struggles with a lack of affordable housing, limited job opportunities, widespread substance addiction, and the ongoing impact of recent wildfires, all of which have stretched its resources to the limit. Local leaders, including the mayor of Clearlake, identified homelessness as a central issue driving many of these challenges.
