United States & Territories

The increasing interconnectedness of our world means a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere: the impacts of climate change and the risks of infectious diseases know no borders. All communities are vulnerable to the threats facing public health, including in the U.S.

In times of greatest need, Project HOPE has brought our global expertise to tackle health problems in the U.S., providing critical relief and long-term support in the wake of large natural disasters and health crises.

Bringing HOPE to the U.S.

A History of Domestic Operations

In 1969, Project HOPE began helping primarily Hispanic and Native American communities along the border regions. The programs targeted rural, underserved areas and focused on developing primary care services and training primary health care workers.

From 2009 to 2012, Project HOPE ran the Habits for Life program in New Mexico in partnership with United Health Group. Habits for Life offered screenings and prevention education for diabetes, hypertension, and obesity in an effort to raise awareness and increase access to care.

In 2011, Project HOPE provided donated medical supplies and clinic equipment to the Delta Health Alliance, including the Leland Medical Clinic in the underserved Mississippi Delta region. We also supplied donated medicines and clinic equipment to free medical clinics in Virginia and West Virginia.

Since then, we have responded to major natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, Irma, Maria, Laura, and Ida.

Today, we’re primarily focused on responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. Our COVID-19 response in the U.S. started with immediate relief including essential PPE for health care workers and the deployment of expert volunteers to provide surge staffing in hard-hit communities. Today, we’re supporting infection prevention and control efforts and equipping community health workers to promote adoption of the vaccine.

Providing Guidance and Testing in Long-Term Care Facilities

In Chicago and Cook County, Illinois, we’re helping reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities, which experienced staggering numbers of infections in residents and staff. Our team has visited more than 120 facilities in the Chicago area, assessing needs, building plans, and helping staff and administration keep residents healthy, engaged, and safe in accordance with recommended guidance from local public health agencies.

>> Read: Volunteer Voices: The Cost of COVID-19 on Seniors

In partnership with Quest Diagnostics, we also facilitated free COVID-19 testing services — testing supplies, diagnostics, and courier services — to two long-term care facilities in the Chicago Metro Area. This included infection prevention and control support and training for facility staff, working with them to develop strategies for engaging residents and their families in infection control efforts and to bring awareness to education related to COVID-19 and testing. This extra support allowed staff to continue providing residents with the best care possible, at the height of the outbreak.

In partnership with the University of Chicago, Project HOPE subject matter experts provided 16 weeks of infection prevention curriculum and virtual mentoring to more than 240 long-term care facilities in Illinois and Texas.

Supporting Free and Charitable Clinics

In Texas, we have built a coalition of free and charitable clinics to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in Houston and McAllen, near the U.S.-Mexico border. This includes recruiting, hiring, and onboarding local community healthcare workers and vaccinators to expand vaccine administration at clinics.

To increase the capacity and knowledge of clinic personnel in COVID-19 vaccine science and protocols, we’re facilitating virtual COVID-19 trainings across partner clinics’ networks and ensuring continuous education and community of practice through cascade trainings and COVID-19 e-Learning platforms.

To reduce vaccine hesitancy and address barriers in targeted communities, community healthcare workers and vaccinators are disseminating education materials on COVID-19 vaccines, and providing links to community support services and networks. We’re also conducting community outreach campaigns to communicate locations and increase referrals to vaccination sites and available support services.

Protecting Navajo Nation

Indigenous populations are some of the most vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19. In partnership with Indian Health Services, Project HOPE has been supporting Navajo Nation throughout the pandemic with PPE and ongoing medical volunteers to provide surge support in the reservation’s hospitals.

We’ve deployed more than 50 expert medical volunteers, provided increased access to COVID-19 testing, and supported one of the most successful vaccination outreach efforts in the country, which included mobile vaccine clinics.

>> Learn more about how we’re responding in Navajo Nation.

Responding in Puerto Rico

Project HOPE was one of the first organizations to arrive in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. In the first days and weeks after the storm, we delivered over $2 million in lifesaving medical supplies, including 1,500 vials of insulin for the island’s diabetic population.

To build resilience for the long term, we worked with local partners to help people living with diabetes and hypertension learn to better manage their health. We also strengthened emergency preparedness, which included the establishment of a solar-powered, island-wide cold chain to ensure uninterrupted access to medicines and vaccines in the event of another disaster, like the earthquakes in early 2020.

>> Read: Project HOPE And The University Of Puerto Rico Protect Emergency Medicine Supply 

Today, we’re working with local partners to address mental health and resiliency for healthcare workers. We’re also running the weekly COVID-19 virtual trainings as part of the Project ECHO series.

Providing Relief in Times of Emergency

Project HOPE has a long history of responding to natural disasters and has responded to several hurricanes in the U.S. and territories, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, Laura, Ida, and Katrina.

In 2005, we deployed medical volunteers in response to Hurricane Katrina in collaboration with the U.S. Navy effort. When Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria struck in 2017, we sent medical volunteers to Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. In Texas, we partnered with Team Rubicon to mobilize volunteer teams to help address the most pressing health needs, and stayed long past the storm to help patients with hypertension, chronic illnesses, and mental health ailments. In Florida, our disaster response team addressed the health needs of some of Hurricane Irma’s most vulnerable victims — the elderly community and special needs patients displaced by the storm. In Puerto Rico, we provided critical medical support and lifesaving medicine and medical supplies to some of the island’s most vulnerable survivors.

In 2020, we provided medical supplies and PPE in Texas and Louisiana following Hurricane Laura. In 2021, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, we worked with Louisiana health authorities and partners to respond to the needs of displaced populations by providing medical surge support and relief supplies.

Our Impact

Our work in the U.S. and territories has helped tens of thousands of families recover from disaster and health crises, build back stronger, and grow more resilient in the face of future emergencies.

In response to COVID-19, we have delivered millions of pieces of PPE to health systems across the U.S., including Arizona, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Texas.

Our volunteers in the U.S. have provided care to over 3,700 patients in ICUs, surge units, and COVID-19 units in Houston and Navajo Nation. Project HOPE volunteers have tested over 25,600 people for COVID-19 across Houston, Montgomery County, Navajo Nation, and Chicago/Cook County, and our infection prevention experts have reached 120 nursing homes with more than 13,800 local residents.

We’ve also supported the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Institute to implement its first Project ECHO series on COVID-19 and other topics on mental health and resiliency during disasters. The first series of ECHOs reached more than 1,200 first responders.