PROJECT SEARCH

Project SEARCH is a one-year internship program for students with disabilities who are in their last year of high school.  It is targeted for students whose goal is competitive employment.  Students get to experience immersion in the workforce which includes the teaching and learning process, as well as the acquisition of employability and marketable work skills.  During this program students get to participate in three internships to explore different career paths.  The students work with a team that consists of their families, a special education teacher and rehabilitation services to create an employment goal and support during this program.  Project SEARCH is a partnership between a host business, education, vocational rehabilitation agencies and long-term support agencies.  The St. Elizabeth Project SEARCH partners are:  St. Elizabeth Hospital, which provides an on-site classroom and a variety of internships, Appleton Area School District, which provides the full-time on-site Instructor and student interns, Valley Packaging, which provides Job Coach staff and a Job Developer for intern placement in community jobs, Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), which provides funding for on-site Job Coaching and VR services for student interns, Community Care, Inc. which provides long-term support and follow-up services to student interns requiring it.  Project SEARCH has grown over 200 projects across 40 states and four countries.  Some of their business partners include:  National Institute of Health-Clinical Center, US Dept. of Labor, UW Hospital and Clinics, Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and Walmart Distribution Center in Menomonie.  There are several benefits to the students who are involved with this program.  The student gets to participate in a variety of internships within the hospital or business.  They acquire competitive, transferable and marketable job skills.  Students gain increased independence, confidence and self-esteem.  Each student also obtains work based individualized coaching, instruction and feedback from instructors throughout their internship and they develop connections to Vocational Rehabilitation and other adult service agencies.  There are also several benefits to the employer.  They get access to a new, diverse talent stream with skills that match labor needs, increased performance and retention in high-turnover, entry level positions and probably one of the biggest benefits is that the employer gets experience increased regional and national recognition through marketing of this unique program.  The selection process for this program goes through the Appleton area school district.  Teachers make referrals of students they believe are qualified for the program.  The students need to fill out an application and go through an assessment at the facility.  The program can accept up to 12 students and last year had 7 students participate and this year will have another 7. One of the students that went through this program, Andy Barta, mentioned how he became more independent by going through this program.  He loved his internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital and is currently looking for a career in the same line of work. As you can see this is a great program and it helps so many area students with disabilities become more independent, confident and gain the social skills necessary to make it in the workforce.