REST Program

Restorative Experience for a Safer Transition.

Navigation Team

The Navigation Team is a committee of peer support staff who work with individuals on a one on one basis to provide strengths-based advocacy and navigation services to our guests in regards to medical needs, mental health support, substance use, and housing. It is a participatory, goal-oriented program for guests that are ready to engage in getting connected to services. The REST Program is a specific effort within the Navigation Team. 

Who We Serve

Michael is 75 years old, has been homeless for 10 years, and is living with congestive heart failure, COPD and recently went through a double amputation of his legs. He continues to have ongoing infections that require hospitalization because he cannot continue his antibiotic and follow up care routine when he is inevitably discharged back to his encampment. Without access to proper hygiene and wound care supplies, his infection rages on which puts his heart at much higher risk for complications that could be fatal.

REST will provide Michael up to 30 days to recover once he is discharged from the hospital to get the infection under control. He will be able to establish consistency with his follow up care and reduce the likelihood that he'll be rehospitalized for the same reason.

Jade is a 30 year old person with a torn ACL in their left knee. Jade is supposed to have surgery and had a consultation with the orthopedic surgeon. Jade's phone was stolen while they were sleeping at a shelter and they never received the call to schedule the surgery. Jade's knee is incredibly swollen and they can barely walk. The phone at the shelter is a message only phone, so they have no reliable way to schedule the surgery. Without access to formal pain management, Jade has had to purchase pain pills on the street which are dangerous and have a high risk of overdose. Jade is afraid of getting surgery because they will have to get up and leave each morning at the shelter they are staying at.

REST will provide Jade up to 30 days to recover from surgery, attend all follow up and physical therapy appointments and manage their medication in a safe and legal way.

With a little imagination and some navigation, we can help you reach your destination.

What is REST?
The Navigation Team REST Program is an initiative launched on August 1, 2021 between Interfaith Works, Providence St. Peter Hospital, and Multicare Health Services at Capital Medical Center.

• Interfaith Works REST program offers a safe, healing environment for recovering, and on-site coordination of support services to set patients who are discharging from the hospitals with no where to go, set up for success.
• The Interfaith Works REST program provides a streamlined, cost effective solution to the need for comprehensive supportive recovery space for unhoused individuals. 

Why the REST Program?
The hospital system is not designed to serve individuals who no longer require medical care, but have no safe place that is conducive to healing to be discharged to.

• This leads hospitals to make the costly choice to retain these individuals as “social” admissions or discharge them to unsafe situations that put them at higher risk for recidivism.
• Further, when medically fragile people are discharged to the shelter with minimal coordination, it becomes a double burden for our community to address -- the strain on the hospital system, as well as the homeless response system. 

How does it work?
The REST program is not a medical treatment, psychiatric, skilled nursing, assisted living, rehabilitation, long term shelter, substance use or mental health care facility.

• The REST program only serves those individuals through direct referral from partnering hospitals who meet the program criteria and simply require a restful place to heal.
• The REST program is located in the Unity Commons Shelter and offers the guests the restful, calm atmosphere required for recovery.
• No on-site medical care is provided, but REST peer support counselors will support and coordinate outside visiting healthcare and caregiving providers to help discharged patients achieve their care plans.
• The Navigation Team peer support workers will also work for a safe step down plan for discharge from the REST bed within the 30 day time frame.

How are referrals made?
We accept referrals directly from our healthcare provider partners.

• REST only accepts direct referrals from case managers at Providence St. Peter Hospital and Multicare Health Services at Capital Medical Center.
• If you are a healthcare provider and interested in partnering with us, please fill out the contact form below to get a meeting with us.
• If you are an employee of Providence or Capital Medical Center, please see the referral documents below or contact our Navigation Team hotline at 360-870-9566 ext 2. 

How is REST paid for?
REST beds are set aside for healthcare providers who contract with us to pay a daily rate for bed placements.

Additionally, the REST program is supported through Thurston County Public Health homeless dollars through the HB2163 funds and potentially in the future through the non-congregant shelter federal funds made possible through the American Recovery Act

I am interested in starting a medical respite program. Who can I speak to for more information?
We are always happy to share information to other service providers! You can call our Navigation Team hotline at 360-870-9566 or email [email protected] and we will get back to you.

Referral Documents

IW Release of Information (ROI)

REST Space Use Agreement

REST Hospital Discharge Form

REST Hot sheet for Hospital Workers

REST Program Referrals

We take referrals for the REST program from St. Peter Hospital and Capital Medical Hospital only. If you work in the hospitals and need more information about how to make a referral, please fill out this contact form and we will get back to you within 3 business days. Thanks!

Navigation Team