Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH was developed in 1996 as a partnership between Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Great Oaks Career Campuses, and the Hamilton County Board of Developmental Disability Services in Ohio. These agencies worked together to create a program to fill employment needs in high-turnover, entry-level positions at the hospital while offering developmentally disabled people from the area the opportunity to learn new and marketable skills and have gainful employment.

The program has since expanded to include over 500 sites within the United States and ten countries. Community Bridges is a proud partner of the Project SEARCH Program at Concord Hospital which is one of five in the state of New Hampshire.

Project SEARCH is a two-year program for individuals with disabilities whose goal is to obtain competitive employment. The two-year program consists of a one-year internship experience and a second year focusing on any needed long-term employment support. Internships take place in a healthcare setting where total immersion in the workforce facilitates the teaching and learning process of marketable workforce skills. Students participate in three internship rotations, each focusing on workforce skill sets and explore a variety of career paths. The students work with a team that includes their family, a special education teacher, skills trainers, and rehabilitative service providers.

Benefits of Project SEARCH for students:

Acquire competitive, transferable, and marketable job skills
Gain increased independence, confidence, and self esteem
Obtain work based individualized coaching, instruction and feedback
Develop linkages to Vocational Rehabilitation and other adult service agencies

Project SEARCH at Concord Hospital is created through the partnership of Concord Hospital, Community Bridges, Concord School District and NH Vocational Rehabilitation.

Eligibility:

All potential interns must meet the following criteria:

be considering some kind of post-education employment.
be eligible for services with NH Vocational Rehabilitation or be in an active plan with them and be a client of Community Bridges or an area agency.
have strong transitional skill development and demonstrate the ability to function independently and safely, be responsible, communicate appropriately, understand appropriate behavior in a highly structured work environment, listen, and take constructive criticism and learn from it
be 20* years of age by June of the enrollment year, so age 21 is reached during the second program year or shortly after it ends and no older than 35.

*Special arrangements must be in place for those age 18 and 19 to be considered

Application Process:

Placement in Project Search involves an extensive process. Students apply and are accepted through a selection committee process which requires an interview and assessments.

File reviews and observations will be conducted. Pertinent documentation such as immunization records, IEPs, resumes, financial support and references must be provided. By the nature of the program, a very limited number of seats are available.

For more information on how to get involved with Project SEARCH, please contact Maureen LaClair at mlaclair@communitybridgesnh.org

Project SEARCH Primary Contact

Maureen LaClair mlaclair@communitybridgesnh.org

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