Roanoke Valley Project SEARCH A collaboration creating innovative solutions for workforce and career development Mr. Gary Gibson, LPC, NCC, Counselor, Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services Ms. Pat Macdonald, Salem Schools Parent Resource Center Coordinator

Roanoke Valley Project SEARCH Botetourt County Public Schools Roanoke City Public Schools Roanoke County Public Schools Salem City Public Schools Department of Rehabilitative Services Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare Blue Ridge Independent Living Center Carilion Clinic Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute Virginia ACCSES Roanoke Valley

Brief History of Project SEARCH Erin Riehle, RN, MSN, Director of Cincinnati Children’s Emergency Department, 1996 Erin Riehle, RN, MSN, Director of Cincinnati Children’s Emergency Department, 1996 Looking for ways to fill high-turnover, entry level jobs Looking for ways to fill high-turnover, entry level jobs Individuals with disabilities made up a large percentage of their patients, yet they did not have anyone with a disability employed by the hospital Individuals with disabilities made up a large percentage of their patients, yet they did not have anyone with a disability employed by the hospital Designed a business model for hiring people with developmental and other significant disabilities with local educational, vocational, and disability groups Designed a business model for hiring people with developmental and other significant disabilities with local educational, vocational, and disability groups Today is replicated in over 200 sites across the US and Canada, England, Scotland, and Australia Today is replicated in over 200 sites across the US and Canada, England, Scotland, and Australia Primary objective is to secure employment for people with disabilities Primary objective is to secure employment for people with disabilities Roanoke Valley

Project SEARCH Today* Roanoke Valley *States with sites shaded yellow (

Brief History of Roanoke Valley Project SEARCH -March Erin Riehle, RN, BSN, presents at Down Syndrome Association of Roanoke (DSAR) Keys to the Future Conference -February DSAR initiates collaboration between Project SEARCH partners, and provides funding for Ms. Riehle to come to Roanoke three times to assist with collaboration and provide training. -August Inaugural program begins using braided funding. Staff are hired and students commence internships. February 2012 – Program is in second year with 7 interns from 4 school systems

Key Concepts Collaboration with Collaboration with Carilion Clinic, Roanoke Valley school systems, Department of Rehabilitative Services, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys and other community providers. Braided funding Braided funding Immersion and impact Immersion and impact Training in real work settings Training in real work settings Low risk, low cost for business Low risk, low cost for business Hiring students who are “good fit” Hiring students who are “good fit” **This is a highly competitive program with a goal of employment** Roanoke Valley

Project SEARCH is doing more than providing valuable work experiences for students. It is massaging and changing corporate culture and the receptivity of workplaces to employ people with disabilities. Project SEARCH is doing more than providing valuable work experiences for students. It is massaging and changing corporate culture and the receptivity of workplaces to employ people with disabilities. Diversity World Magazine, November 2006 **UPDATE** PICTURE Roanoke Valley

What is a Successful Outcome? (defined by national office based at Cincinnati Children’s Project SEARCH, Works minimum of 20 hours per week Works minimum of 20 hours per week Earns minimum wage or higher Earns minimum wage or higher Employment in an integrated setting Employment in an integrated setting Wages are paid by employer Wages are paid by employer Employment is not seasonal Employment is not seasonal Roanoke Valley

How did the inaugural class do? u To date, 8 of the 11 interns from the class of 2011 have been hired (73%) u Where are they working? Roanoke Valley

u VTC School of Medicine as a Library Aide u Roanoke College dining services u Veterans Hospital as a Laundry Aide u Kroger as a Dairy Associate u Botetourt Athletic Center in housekeeping u West Salem Goodwill Store as a Processor (clothing) u Marshalls as a Processor (clothing) u YMCA as an Assistant Group Leader u UPDATE Class % 3 Out of 6 Hired by Host Site Roanoke Valley Outcome to date for Class of 2011

Project SEARCH Work Day 8:00 Employability Skills (classroom) 10:00 Worksites 11:30 Lunch 12:15 Worksites 2:00 Review, Plan, Journaling (classroom) 3:30 Depart Roanoke Valley

Classroom: 4 Goals u u Employment and Job Skills u u Self-Advocacy Skills and using them u u Independent Living Skills u u Understanding and Use of Public Transportation Roanoke Valley

Examples of Topics Covered in Classroom u u Workplace manners u u Work bullies- how to identify and deal with them u u How sleep impacts work u u Managing anger u u Problem-solving when there is a conflict at work u u How your personality impacts your job (introvert/extrovert) u u (Good and Bad) Things that catch the attention of supervisors u u Basic reading, writing, math, health, history, social skills Roanoke Valley

Carilion Print Shop

Carilion Materials Management Facility Roanoke Valley

Carilion Laundry Roanoke Valley

Carilion Rehabilitation Roanoke Valley

Carilion Food Service Roanoke Valley

Carilion Food Service Roanoke Valley

For more information please contact… Mr. Chris Jones Botetourt County Public School (540) Ms. Cindy Goldstein Ms. Cindy Goldstein Roanoke City Public Schools (540) Ms. Melissa Lang Roanoke City Public Schools (540) Ms. Barbara Shutt Roanoke County Public Schools (540) ext Ms. Maxine Casey Salem City Public Schools (540) Roanoke Valley

Roanoke Valley Project SEARCH A collaboration creating innovative solutions for workforce and career development