Project SEARCH

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/2011

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Project SEARCH at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

• Program began in 1996

• Developed as a means to:

• meet entry level employment needs at CCHMC

• support their Diversity Initiative, and

• partner with schools and community services agencies 2

• Over 436 programs in 45 states, Australia, Canada, England, Holland, Ireland and Scotland.

• 94% of sites entered data

•75.5% of graduates employed • Florida Outcomes = 74% employed• 33% employed by the host site, 67%

employed elsewhere in the community• Average hourly wage was $9.61• Average hours worked were 25.4/week

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Progress to Date

Program Goals

Employment for each Project SEARCH intern

• 16 hours a week or more

• Minimum wage or better

• Integrated Setting

• Non-Seasonal

• Bonus:

• Culture change at the host business as the work skills

of young adults with disabilities are recognized

• Publicly funded systems working together

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Project SEARCH Key Concepts

• Business-Led in collaboration with education,

rehabilitation and long term support agencies

• Braided funding

• Immersion and impact

• Training in real work settings

• Low risk, low cost for business

• Hiring students who are “good fit”

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© CCHMC 1/3/06

Community Rehabilitation

Partner-VR Vendor: Provides

Job Coaching

Vocational Rehabilitation

Business

Education –School District

APD or other Developmental

Disability Organization

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Student

Intern

Families

Program Description

• One year program (aligns with school year)

• 8-12 young adults (average)

• Individuals with a variety of developmental/intellectual

disabilities

• Rotate through 3 unpaid internships with continual

feedback to gain/increase job skills

• Consistent on-site staff provided by school and agency

• Outcome of competitive, integrated employment

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Basic Eligibility Guidelines• Students in their last year of education

(preferred) with a variety of developmental disabilities (Recommend 75% of cohort with Dev. Disabilities)

• Ability to take direction and change behavior

• Eligible for supported employment services through Vocational Rehabilitation

• Access public transportation (training provided)

• Pass drug screen, background check, immunizations - whatever is required of other employees

• Desire to Work!

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Project SEARCH Annual CalendarFollows School District Calendar

August 14, 2017 June 1, 2018

1st

Internship

Graduate:

Begin Work

at Host Site

or in

Community

2nd

Internship

3rd

Internship

3 week

Orientation

Transition

Week

Transition

Week

Begin

Job Search intensifies during 2nd Internship

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Sample Project SEARCH Day

• 8:00 Employability Skills

• 9:00 Internships

• 11:30 Lunch

• 12:00 Internships

• 2:00 Review, reflect, plan

• 2:30 Depart

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Internships

• Cornerstone of the program

• Competitive, marketable, transferable skills

• 4 – 5 hours of day

• Work/ Social Skills

• 10 weeks/Flexible

• Honest evaluation

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Host Business Industry Sectors

Healthcare

Government

Post-Secondary Education

Hospitality

Nursing Home/Rehab

Other: Banking, Biotech, Distribution Center, Insurance, Parks/Zoos/Attractions, Pharmaceuticals, Retail, Utilities

Class of 2014-15 Disability Categories

Autism

Emotional Disturbance

Intellectual Disability

Multiple Disabilities

Specific LearningDisabilityOther

Current Florida Sites

14

23 Sites

in 14

Counties:Brevard (3)

Broward (1)

Duval (1)

Escambia (2)

Martin (1)

Miami-Dade (3)

Orange (4)

Osceola (1)

Palm Beach (2)

Pinellas (1)

Polk (1)

Santa Rosa (1)

Seminole (1)

Volusia (1)

Florida Expansion 2017

• Contract between Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC)

• Open 15 new sites in 2017-18 School Year

• Start up, training, technical assistance and license fees waived ($16,000) for each new site

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Expansion Sites 2017-18

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15 New Sites:-Bay

-Charlotte

-Clay

-Collier

-Columbia (w/

Suwanee &

Hamilton)

-Duval

-Glades/Hendry

-Marion

-Nassau

-Osceola

-Palm Beach

-Pasco

-Pinellas

-St. John’s

-Volusia

Statewide Advisory Support Team

• Agency for Persons with Disabilities – Megan Murray

• Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center – Susie Rutkowski

• Florida Department of Education – Wendy Metty

• FDDC – Sheila Gritz-Swift & Tracy Coomer

• Orange County – Cannon Cameron

• Project 10 – Jordan Knab & Carly Detlefsen

• Vocational Rehabilitation – Regina Rice17