Project Open Hand

PROJECT OPEN HAND'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE BY PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO THE SICK AND VULNERABLE, CARING FOR AND EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY.

PROJECT OPEN HAND'S COMMUNITY NUTRITION PROGRAM (CNP) IS THE LARGEST CONGREGATE MEAL PROVIDER IN SAN FRANCISCO. OLDER ADULTS (60+ YEARS) AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES (18-59 YEARS) CAN ATTEND VARIOUS SITE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHERE THEY CAN ENJOY A WARM, NUTRITIONALLY SUPPORTIVE MEAL IN A CONGREGATE SETTING AND HELPS DECREASE RISKS OF ISOLATION AND LONELINESS. SERVICES ARE OFFERED 365 DAYS A YEAR AND INCLUDE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH OPTIONS DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION. SINCE THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, CNP HAS MODIFIED SERVICES THAT HAVE INCLUDED MEAL DELIVERY AND A TAKEOUT MODEL OF FROZEN MEAL PACKS. SOME SITE LOCATIONS HAVE RESUMED SEATED DINING AND WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THIS AS THE PANDEMIC TRANSITIONS INTO AN ENDEMIC STATE ENSURING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR CONSUMERS.

THE WELLNESS PROGRAM OFFERS A MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL INTERVENTION THAT PAIRS MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS AND GROCERIES ALONGSIDE NUTRITION EDUCATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CLIENT SERVICES STAFF AND REGISTERED DIETITIANS TRAINED TO PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED NUTRITION SERVICES. CLIENTS ARE REFERRED TO WELLNESS SERVICES THROUGH A LICENSED MEDICAL PROVIDER AND RECEIVE UP TO TWO-THIRDS OF THEIR DAILY NUTRITIONAL NEEDS ACCOMPANIED BY ROBUST NUTRITION AND WELLNESS RELATED CURRICULA, ONE-ON-ONE NUTRITION COUNSELING SESSIONS AND FOOD DEMONSTRATIONS. CLIENTS HAVE THE OPTION TO PICK UP THEIR MEALS AND GROCERIES FROM POH'S GROCERY CENTERS IN SAN FRANCICSO AND OAKLAND OR AT ONE OF OUR SATELLITE LOCATIONS WHERE WE OFFER MOBILE SERVICES. FOR CLIENTS UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO ONE OF OUR LOCATIONS DUE TO MOBILITY ISSUES OR UNDUE HARDSHIP, WE OFFERED HOMEDELIVERED MEALS AND GROCERIES. OUR CLIENT SERVICES TEAM AND/OR RDS DETERMINE THE MOST APPROPRIATE SERVICE FOR THE CLIENT--DAILY HOT MEAL DELIVERY, A WEEKLY FROZEN SEVEN PACK OF MEALS, AND/OR A WEEKLY BOX OF MEDICALLY TAILORED GROCERIES--BASED ON THE CLIENT'S ABILITY TO SAFELY STORE AND PREPARE FROZEN MEALS AND GROCERIES.

PROJECT OPEN HAND IS A LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEADER AND ADVOCATE FOR MEDICALLY TAILORED INTERVENTIONS FOR THOSE LIVING WITH CHRONIC DISEASE. WITH OVERSIGHT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES (DHCS), PROJECT OPEN HAND HAS LEAD A STATEWIDE PILOT ACROSS THE STATE SINCE 2017 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CALIFORNIA FOOD IS MEDICINE COALITION. THE MEDI-CAL MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS (MTM) PILOT PROGRAM IS A MEDICAL NUTRITION INTERVENTION FOR MEDI-CAL BENEFICIARIES WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE. AIMED AT IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES AND REDUCING HEALTHCARE COSTS, THE MEDI-CAL BENEFIT INCLUDES COMPLETE NUTRITION OF THREE MEALS PER DAY, FOR 12 WEEKS AND FOUR MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY SESSIONS DURING THE INTERVENTION, AT NO COST TO THE PATIENT. IN JULY OF 2021, THIS MODEL OF INTERVENTION WAS ADAPTED AND EXPANDED IN A NEW CONTRACT WITH DHCS, MTM BRIDGE, TO INCLUDE OTHER CHRONIC DISEASE POPULATIONS THAT BENEFIT FROM MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL INTERVENTIONS. THIS FUNDING ENSURES CALIFORNIANS HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICALLY SUPPORTIVE FOOD AND CONNECTION AS LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTS CONTRACTS ARE IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE STATE.