Our Founding Story
Integrative Healers Action Network (IHAN) was founded in October 2017 during the Sonoma County Tubbs Fire, then the most destructive wildfire in California history. What began as a grassroots response quickly grew into a coordinated regional effort. Within days of the fires, Dr. Jen Riegle, ND, and Jenny Harrow-Keeler, colleagues at Flourish Integrative Health in Santa Rosa, mobilized integrative health practitioners from across Sonoma County and the Bay Area after recognizing a significant gap in care at both evacuation centers and first responder base camps. From this initial response, IHAN received its first funding from the American Red Cross to continue providing integrative support during disasters, formalizing a partnership that remains strong today.
Our History
From 2017 through 2020, IHAN provided acute and long-term support across four major wildfire disasters in Sonoma County. During this time, our teams also responded to communities in Paradise following the 2018 Camp Fire, offering long-term trauma-informed care as families navigated profound loss and displacement. In 2020, IHAN supported recovery efforts in the Santa Cruz region following the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which helped give rise to the CARE Collaborative—a program created to provide culturally responsive, integrative services for Latinx farmworkers and families impacted by the fires.
Since 2020, IHAN’s work has evolved with a deeper focus on the health and resilience of first responders, especially firefighters who experience repeated toxic exposures, chronic stress, and cumulative trauma. Through a close partnership with the Volunteer Fire Foundation, IHAN has delivered dozens of wellness clinics at fire stations across Sonoma County and the Los Angeles region. Our 12-week firefighter detox program, developed in collaboration with Wild Oak Medicine and local fire departments, provides structured medical detoxification, trauma-informed health coaching, and community support for firefighters recovering from toxic exposures.
Today, as climate-driven disasters intensify in frequency and impact, IHAN remains committed to transforming trauma into resilience. Our integrative approach recognizes that true health requires caring for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of individuals — and of entire communities. Building community resilience is not only possible; it is essential for surviving and thriving in the era of climate change.
Since 2020, IHAN’s work has evolved with a deeper focus on the health and resilience of first responders, especially firefighters who experience repeated toxic exposures, chronic stress, and cumulative trauma. Through a close partnership with the Volunteer Fire Foundation, IHAN has delivered dozens of wellness clinics at fire stations across Sonoma County and the Los Angeles region. Our 12-week firefighter detox program, developed in collaboration with Wild Oak Medicine and local fire departments, provides structured medical detoxification, trauma-informed health coaching, and community support for firefighters recovering from toxic exposures.
Today, as climate-driven disasters intensify in frequency and impact, IHAN remains committed to transforming trauma into resilience. Our integrative approach recognizes that true health requires caring for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of individuals — and of entire communities. Building community resilience is not only possible; it is essential for surviving and thriving in the era of climate change.
Mission
Our mission is to transform trauma into resilience for communities impacted by environmental disasters.
Vision
Resilient communities supported by trauma-informed integrative health care for first responders and survivors impacted by climate disasters
How We Fulfill Our Mission
IHAN-trained site coordinators establish integrative medicine clinics in evacuation shelters and first-responder base camps during active disasters, ensuring survivors and responders have access to immediate, hands-on support.
We also partner with community-based organizations across Northern California to provide free long-term recovery clinics for fire survivors, first responders, and Latinx farmworkers and families. Through these programs, we organize and support teams of licensed practitioners, verifying credentials and malpractice coverage, and providing training in trauma-informed care, cultural responsiveness, and disaster-response safety.
Our volunteer practitioners offer a broad range of evidence-informed integrative therapies, including massage therapy, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic care, acupuncture, clinical homeopathy, osteopathy, functional medicine, sports medicine, physical therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions.
Integrative medicine is uniquely suited for disaster recovery because it addresses the whole person—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Practiced during emergency response and over the long term, integrative care supports individual and community resilience, helping people not only recover but regain stability, strength, and well-being.
We also partner with community-based organizations across Northern California to provide free long-term recovery clinics for fire survivors, first responders, and Latinx farmworkers and families. Through these programs, we organize and support teams of licensed practitioners, verifying credentials and malpractice coverage, and providing training in trauma-informed care, cultural responsiveness, and disaster-response safety.
Our volunteer practitioners offer a broad range of evidence-informed integrative therapies, including massage therapy, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic care, acupuncture, clinical homeopathy, osteopathy, functional medicine, sports medicine, physical therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions.
Integrative medicine is uniquely suited for disaster recovery because it addresses the whole person—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Practiced during emergency response and over the long term, integrative care supports individual and community resilience, helping people not only recover but regain stability, strength, and well-being.
Values
Compassion
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Equity
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Collaboration
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Empowerment
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