We made a great transition in vocational rehabilitation from conventional post-hospitalization community settings - by integrating it directly into Mental Health Centres. This model introduces concepts of rehabilitation, recovery, and hope in the early stages of mental health recovery, aiding patients in stabilization, improving social relations, minimizing re-hospitalization, and facilitating independent living in the community.

During the ‘pre-vocational rehabilitation’, hospitalized patients undergo support alongside service users who participate in their 'community-based' vocational rehabilitation. This shared practice in the café normalizes recovery processes, fostering a transition from hospital to community and labor market inclusion.

The café also serves as a meeting point within hospitals, where team members, staff, patients, and community members come together. Dietary education groups and other life skills sessions are being held in the café.

Our innovation has successfully facilitated the transition from hospitalization to community-based rehabilitation and mainstream employment. Participants have reported a higher sense of optimism and an increased willingness to engage in community activities that promote inclusion. These findings underscore the crucial role of pre-rehabilitation within mental health hospitals, emphasizing its positive impact on individuals' attitudes and overall well-being.

Initially piloted in one Israeli mental health center, the project is now actively implemented in six nationwide. Based on this success, Shekulo Tov Group has leveraged the insights gained to develop a program with a similar vision for the Israeli Prison Authority, for prisoners with complex psychosocial disabilities, engaging them in a chocolate-making production workshop before discharge. Upon release, participants can integrate into our community-based production plants or other enterprises.

Collaborating with the Israeli Ministry of Health was pivotal for implementing the service across hospitals. Their involvement ensured integration into diverse healthcare settings, and improving case management during patient discharges.
As a civil society organisation we played a central role in uniting stakeholders, including mayors and local community organizations that helped normalized mental health, supporting cafes and encouraging community members to spend leisure time in mental hospitals.

Good Coffee addresses post-hospitalization challenges for people with complex psychosocial disabilities, reducing transitional vacuum and supporting reintegration into mainstream employment or community-based vocational engagement. it ensures meaningful pathways of independent living.
From a social perspective, mayors and influential figures actively endorse the cafes, it helps destigmatizing mental health, making the cafes enjoyable spaces for leisure and promoting social inclusion.

Good Coffee's program boasts an impressive 85% successful transition rate.

Before Hospitalization:
- 81% had prior experience in mainstream employment or vocational activities.

Post-Hospitalization:
- 59% transitioned to vocational training or community rehabilitation.
- 26% secured mainstream employment through supported services.

In the broader scope of the Integrative Unit Model, service users who were transitioned to mainstream employment with our support:

- 65% maintain employment for over a year.
- 95% earn at least minimum wage.

These results affirm the innovation's success in promoting sustained employment and independent living, showcasing it effectiveness in fostering societal inclusion.

Navigating Mental Health Centres can pose challenges in aligning medical and social services. Building trust required balancing medical and rehabilitative approaches.

Long-term patients might struggle with rehabilitation concepts in hospitals, and some lose hope; the solution lies in encouraging staff to instill hope and maintain momentum.

Some service users, already in the community, have concerns about returning to where they were hospitalized. With a lot of attention from our team, we try to transform this concern into an experience of growth and a therapeutic process to return to the mental health centers in a different, more assertive position and be a role model for other hospitalized patients.

Firstly, our Integrative Unit Model, renowned for its methods and outcomes (36% transition to mainstream employment), provides a robust foundation. Its adaptability allows flexibility, extending into diverse contexts, environments, and user groups, including hospital patients.

Equally pivotal is the support from the Israeli Ministry of Health, characterized by innovation-friendly policies and an open-minded, inquisitive approach. Their internal backing and collaboration with hospital teams serve as a catalyst, propelling the transformation of our vision into reality. The synergy between a proven model and a supportive regulatory environment creates an optimal landscape for success.

The innovation has demonstrated potential for replication. In particular, in countries with distinct divisions among healthcare, social services, and labor ministries - the model promotes a cohesive, person-centered approach across agencies becomes crucial. The success of replication lies in adapting the model to local structures while emphasizing collaborative, cross-agency coordination.

Two critical lessons emerged from our experience. First, fostering interactions between hospitalized service users and those thriving in the community significantly strengthens hope and motivation. This shared journey empowers individuals to envision success in their rehabilitation process.

Second, normalizing mental health discussions through public engagement is pivotal. Establishing cafes open to the general public within hospitals not only challenges stigmas but also cultivates popular support. While addressing security concerns for more comprehensive public access remains challenging, ongoing collaboration with regulators seeks to overcome these barriers.

The innovation extends its impact by opening coffee shops within certain hospitals to the general public. This deliberate outreach aids in normalizing mental illness and the presence of mental health facilities in society. A standout example is Sha'ar Menahse Hospital, where our cafe has become a popular spot for breakfast and lunch in partners. We've also successfully marketed our cafe to organized tourist groups, offering them a lunch experience and explaining our project. This multifaceted approach ensures that our innovation not only transforms the lives of individuals undergoing rehabilitation but also contributes to destigmatizing mental health within the broader community.