History of the Respite Care Providers' Network
Medical respite care programs originated in Boston (Barbara McInnis House) and Washington, D.C., (Christ House) in 1985, and soon after in Chicago (Interfaith, now the Boulevard).
Not long after, 10 additional communities received money to develop medical respite programs through their Health Care for the Homeless grantees. These 13 programs participated in the first convening of medical respite programs in Chicago in 2000. This convening solidified the importance of providers coming together to share their experiences, successes, and challenges and created a network of support.
In 2004, the Respite Care Providers’ Network was formally included as an individual membership network of the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council (NHCHC). This allowed for medical respite providers to continue to convene annually and maintain their ability to advocate and educate around medical respite care.
Pictured: current RCPN Steering Committee.
The Work of RCPN Today
The RCPN offers a way for medical respite programs and providers to connect to each other, learn about promising and best practices, and create a community of programs across the country.
Currently, there are more than 160 medical respite programs across the United States. The RCPN now consists of more than 1,000 providers, clinicians, and consumers from these programs who are working every day to provide a safe place for recuperation and healing.