Implementing a Transition Model with Adults: UNMC I Nebraska Medicine’s Project SEARCH Impact on Competitive Employment for Adults with Disabilities Tara Harper, M.P.A., Christopher Miller, M.A. Munroe-Meyer Institute UCEDD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198 ABSTRACT JOB CUSTIMIZATION Inclusive practices, such as Project SEARCH, have been proven successful for transition age students wanting an internship opportunity with 100% workplace immersion. Project SEARCH’s employment outcomes range from 60-70% at the completion of the program.[1,2 ] The University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine collaborated with two adult developmental disability providers and Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation to initiate the first adult Project SEARCH site in the state. This transition age model filled a gap in employment services for adults wanting an individualized program that is person driven. The first full year (i.e., 2015 – 2016) of implementation led to an 83% success rate in competitive employment. Plans for expanding adult Project SEARCH sites statewide following this model are already in the works. GOALS “Project SEARCH helped me with my social skills and taught me new job skills that I use daily in my job. I work as a Behavioral Technician Assistant in the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Clinic at the Munroe Meyer Institute. My job allows me to assist the technicians and make it easier and less time consuming for them so they can focus on their job and working with their patients. I like seeing the kids graduate from the feeding program. Getting paid for a job that I enjoy is pretty cool and it feels good too.” ~ Kasey Teachman, Project SEARCH Graduate UNMC I NE MEDICINE PROJECT SEARCH STAKEHOLDERS TEAM Goal One: The outcome of the program is integrated, competitive employment for each participant. Goal Two: Collaboration – Project SEARCH is a partnership with support and resources from Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, a Community Rehabilitation Provider, Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services agency, Workforce Investment Board, and family members. Goal Three: Job customization (a.k.a. job carving) is employed to remove certain tasks from higher level positions to increase productivity and provide opportunities for competitive employment for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. This site is the only adult services site in the state of Nebraska, and 1 out of 15 sites in the state with the largest team of stakeholders. It’s a great example of a collaboration of multiple partners successfully working together for the common goal of assisting individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to obtain competitive employment in an integrated setting. Stakeholders Include: University of Nebraska Medical Center – Munroe-Meyer Institute (UCEDD) Nebraska Medicine Sodexo Madonna School Transition and Employment Services Vodec Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation Nebraska DHHS – Division of Developmental Disabilities Assistive Technology Partnership Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Heartland Workforce Solutions* ResCare Workforce Services* * New Partners (2016 – 2017 Academic Year) DISCUSSION Over the next 2 years this site plans to increase the number of interns accepted into the program until the classroom cap is met at 16. Establishing a Business Advisory Council (BAC) is key to high employment outcomes at this site. By partnering with Heartland Workforce Solutions, this site has access to the state’s Workforce Investment Board, ResCare Workforce Services, and partners located in the American Job Center (AJC). This site will continue to build relationships with key partners in the community, as well as increasing the number of internship sites. The goal is to provide interns with diverse opportunities on campus and pipelines to employment in the community. Job customization has proven an effective method for increasing efficiency and opportunities for employment for Project SEARCH graduates. 1 Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. (2012, May ). Find meaningful paid work for graduates with disabilities, with Project SEARCH. Retrieved October 01, 2016, from Brookes Publishing Co., http://archive.brookespublishing.com/articles/dd-article-0512.htm 2 Christensen, J., Hetherington, S., Daston, M., & Riehle, E. (2015). Longitudinal outcomes of Project SEARCH in upstate New York. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 42(3), 247–255. doi:10.3233/jvr-150746