Project SEARCH, CMC Collaborate to Prepare Interns for Employment
January 13, 2014
Project SEARCH and CMC Collaborate to Prepare Interns for Employment
Bartow County Schools Project SEARCH students are halfway through their internship experience with Cartersville Medical Center (CMC). Project SEARCH is an international program that began in Cincinnati, Ohio and has expanded over the United States and other countries. The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a business led program that occurs entirely at Cartersville Medical Center. The one year, school-to-work program provides a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations.
“Project Search has proven to be as beneficial for the staff and physicians at Cartersville Medical Center as it is intended to be for the interns. We provide opportunities for skills-building and the interns provide us with invaluable services. We’ve also become very fond of the interns and have developed lasting relationships. It’s a win-win situation for all.” - Ginger Tyra, Director, Marketing & Public Relations, Cartersville Medical Center
The goal for each student participant is competitive employment. The program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help youths with disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life. The Project SEARCH model involves an extensive period of training and career exploration, innovative adaptations, long-term job coaching, and continuous feedback from teachers, job coaches, and employers. As a result, at the completion of the training program, students with disabilities are employed in nontraditional, complex and rewarding jobs. The presence of a Project SEARCH Program can bring about long-term changes in business culture that have far-reaching positive effects on attitudes about hiring people with disabilities and the range of jobs in which they can be successful.
Bartow County School students attend the program for a full school year at Cartersville Medical Center. Kristy Mitchell, Project SEARCH instructor, guides the interns with employability and functional skills for approximately three hours of their day. Classroom activities are designed around these focus areas: Team Building, Getting Around your Workplace, Workplace Safety, Technology, Social Skills, Communication, Presentation Skills, Interviewing Skills, Money Management, Health and Wellness, Job Search Skills and Keeping a Job.
The majority of the student’s day is spent working directly with CMC staff developing competitive, marketable and transferable skills to enable them to apply for a related position. Kristi Plank, CMC RN and Perioperative Educator states, “The Project Search interns have been a wonderful addition to our departments…they really feel like part of the team!”
Students also build communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills which are important to their overall development as a young worker. These are unpaid student work experiences, similar to clinical rotations that are part of medical school or business internship programs. Students acquire the core skills necessary to be hired in an entry-level position at the host business site or in the community.
During the last few months of the program, the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor becomes an important part of the team as the emphasis of the program transfers to refining skills, achieving the career goal, and beginning the job search process. Job development and placement occurs based on the student's experiences, strengths, and skills. The VR Counselor will also work with employers identifying tax incentives for employers when hiring people with disabilities.
The other vital component to the program is the community. During this time, potential employers will be approached to obtain gainful employment, minimum of 20 hours a week and non-seasonal work, for each intern.
“It has been very insightful in gaining an understanding of the ‘Project Search’ program. The young people whom this organization serves are very deserving of an opportunity to learn new skills that may benefit their career aspirations. After getting to know a couple of the students, I have found them to be delightful, and each have added value to our organization in a very short time. I look forward to continue offering my support to ‘Project Search’ its mission, and the young people it serves,” said Jeff Barwick , Director of Food & Nutrition Services.
Article by Anne Cornwell, Transition Specialist for Bartow County Schools
Thank you to The Daily Tribune for publishing!
Bartow County Schools Project SEARCH students are halfway through their internship experience with Cartersville Medical Center (CMC). Project SEARCH is an international program that began in Cincinnati, Ohio and has expanded over the United States and other countries. The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a business led program that occurs entirely at Cartersville Medical Center. The one year, school-to-work program provides a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations.
“Project Search has proven to be as beneficial for the staff and physicians at Cartersville Medical Center as it is intended to be for the interns. We provide opportunities for skills-building and the interns provide us with invaluable services. We’ve also become very fond of the interns and have developed lasting relationships. It’s a win-win situation for all.” - Ginger Tyra, Director, Marketing & Public Relations, Cartersville Medical Center
The goal for each student participant is competitive employment. The program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help youths with disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life. The Project SEARCH model involves an extensive period of training and career exploration, innovative adaptations, long-term job coaching, and continuous feedback from teachers, job coaches, and employers. As a result, at the completion of the training program, students with disabilities are employed in nontraditional, complex and rewarding jobs. The presence of a Project SEARCH Program can bring about long-term changes in business culture that have far-reaching positive effects on attitudes about hiring people with disabilities and the range of jobs in which they can be successful.
Bartow County School students attend the program for a full school year at Cartersville Medical Center. Kristy Mitchell, Project SEARCH instructor, guides the interns with employability and functional skills for approximately three hours of their day. Classroom activities are designed around these focus areas: Team Building, Getting Around your Workplace, Workplace Safety, Technology, Social Skills, Communication, Presentation Skills, Interviewing Skills, Money Management, Health and Wellness, Job Search Skills and Keeping a Job.
The majority of the student’s day is spent working directly with CMC staff developing competitive, marketable and transferable skills to enable them to apply for a related position. Kristi Plank, CMC RN and Perioperative Educator states, “The Project Search interns have been a wonderful addition to our departments…they really feel like part of the team!”
Students also build communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills which are important to their overall development as a young worker. These are unpaid student work experiences, similar to clinical rotations that are part of medical school or business internship programs. Students acquire the core skills necessary to be hired in an entry-level position at the host business site or in the community.
During the last few months of the program, the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor becomes an important part of the team as the emphasis of the program transfers to refining skills, achieving the career goal, and beginning the job search process. Job development and placement occurs based on the student's experiences, strengths, and skills. The VR Counselor will also work with employers identifying tax incentives for employers when hiring people with disabilities.
The other vital component to the program is the community. During this time, potential employers will be approached to obtain gainful employment, minimum of 20 hours a week and non-seasonal work, for each intern.
“It has been very insightful in gaining an understanding of the ‘Project Search’ program. The young people whom this organization serves are very deserving of an opportunity to learn new skills that may benefit their career aspirations. After getting to know a couple of the students, I have found them to be delightful, and each have added value to our organization in a very short time. I look forward to continue offering my support to ‘Project Search’ its mission, and the young people it serves,” said Jeff Barwick , Director of Food & Nutrition Services.
Article by Anne Cornwell, Transition Specialist for Bartow County Schools
Thank you to The Daily Tribune for publishing!
Contact:
Chamber of Commerce
770-382-1466
