1. Transition to Work Model that works! Overview June 23, 2016
11/2011
Transition to Work Model that works!
Overview
June 23, 2016
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2. 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
Reference how the program began from Erin’s business perspective. Created not to become a internationally replicated program. The success of the program in changing outcomes for young people with disabilities and meeting the needs of employers has created opportunities for replication. In 1996, Project SEARCH reached 12 young persons per year, now, well over 2000.
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3. 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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4. Philosophy
People with disabilities have the right to choose a path toward education and employment. However, while freedom of choice is given, the right to work is earned. Earning the right to work is dependent upon the student's preparation.
Simon, Stephen, ADA Quarterly, Fall 1998.
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5. 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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All Project SEARCH programs are led by the business with the other organizations sending staff and supporting the students and programs. Braided funding implies that all the Project SEARCH partners use their existing funding streams to fund staff and other program materials, making it look seamless to the business. Students are immersed in the business all day, every day for an entire school year and positively impact the business through their contributions. They train each day in a real work environment, not simulated work. The program is low risk for the business – we are asking them to provide a training environment through the classroom and internships. We are asking them to be open to hiring students who might be a good fit for an open position.

6. Funding for Employment
Typical Linear Services/Funding
Funding for Employment
Education VR
IDD
Project SEARCH Model
Education
Project SEARCH VR
IDD
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7. Student Intern Business Families
Community job coaching/job development services providers
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
Business
Education – School District or adult education
Long term support Developmental Disabilities Organizations, Community Agencies
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Student Intern
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Each Project SEARCH program is a unique partnership with the local community partners. However the basic partners are usually the same: school, vocational rehabilitation, DD agency, supported employment agency, etc. This slide could be customized to replace the generic names with the local agencies involved in your Project SEARCH program.
Families
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8. Host Business provides a Liaison, an on-site classroom and a variety of internships that teach core skills related to that business or industry.
Educational organization or Consortium provides an instructor, employability skills curriculum and student interns
Vocational Rehabilitation provides individual career guidance, job coaching and supports for each intern to gain employment.
Workforce Investment agencies provide training/employment resources and long term supports
Supported Employment Agency provides job coaching and job development for interns at the host business and in their initial job.
Families bring a new perspective, give valuable feedback to the team, add an additional voice for student selection, and facilitate the Family Involvement Program
Local Authorities (IDD) organizations provide funding for long term retention and support for eligible interns once they secure a job.
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9. Program Description – What does Project SEARCH look like?
One year program (typically aligns with school year)
young people (average)
Individuals with a variety of disabilities
Rotation through 3 unpaid internships with continual feedback to gain/increase job skills
Consistent on-site staff provided by service agencies
Outcome of employment
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Project SEARCH is one academic year long, following the school calendar. Feel free to customize this as well.

10. Annual School Schedule
AUG
JUNE
1st Internship
Graduate & Begin Work at Host Site or in Community
2nd Internship
3rd Internship
2 – 3 week Orientation
Workshop Week
Begin
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Regular Employment Planning Meetings
Job Search intensifies during 2nd Internship
Business Advisory Groups and Family Involvement Curriculum

11. School Day 8:00 Staff Meeting: Employability Skills 9:00 Worksites
11:30 Lunch
12:00 Worksites
2:30 Review, reflect, plan
3:00 Depart
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This is just an example; each Project SEARCH program follows the typical school day of the local school district partner. Transportation may also impact the times of the program day. The key is that students should come straight to the host business in the morning and go home directly from the host business. There should be enough time for Employability Skills class for at least one hour and four hours on the internships.

12. Basic Eligibility Guidelines
Students in their last year of high school education or young adults with a variety of disabilities
Appropriate hygiene, social and communication skills
Ability to take direction and change behavior
Access public transportation
Pass drug screen, background check, immunizations - whatever is required of other employees
Desire to Work!
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13. Internships Cornerstone of the program
Competitive, marketable, transferable skills
4 – 5 hours of day
Work/ Social Skills
10-12 weeks/Flexible
Multi-faceted evaluation
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14. Internship to Job
1st Rotation: VP Office at University Program – focus on phone skills
2nd Rotation: Consumer Lending – focus on computer skills
3rd Rotation: Receptionist in Lobby
Hired as receptionist
Promoted to Admin Assist and is able to live on her own.
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15. Progress to Date Close to 400 sites in existence, several in process
Over 45 states
England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada
Condition of license for each site
Independent model fidelity audits
Data collection for documenting outcomes
Wide mix of rural and urban
Huge businesses and small

16. Types of Businesses Partnering with Project SEARCH
Retirement Communities
Retail: Wegman’s, etc.
Distribution Centers
Law Enforcement and Courthouses
Chesapeake Oil
Many large and small hospitals
McConnell Air Force Base
Manufacturing: Shaw Flooring, Atlas Copco Drilling, Cargill
Local, State and Federal Government
Smithsonian Institute
National Institutes of Health
Water and Power
Lottery
Banking and Insurance
Universities
Zoos and Parks

17. Employment Outcomes Class of 2014 - 2015
International Outcome average – over 74 % of graduates obtained competitive employment (16 hours/week or more, non-seasonal)
Increased outcomes each year
Over 170 programs recognized for % employment
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18. Employment Outcomes Data
92% of sites entered data into the Project SEARCH database.
33% of graduates were employed by the host site, 67% were employed outside of the host site.
Average hourly wage was $9.13
Average hours worked were 25.39/week
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19. How do we start Project SEARCH program?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost? Yes – one time fee of $16,000 for license, technical assistance training/support and access to all of our copyrighted materials. Renewal of license is $300. per year.
Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities is currently supporting the initial licensing/technical assistance and on-going support for program development – in fourth year of 5 year grant
What are the first steps?
Determine the interest of the key partners – educational entity and DARS, plus long term support agencies and potential host business (business partner does not have to be identified in initial phase)
Contact national Project SEARCH office to begin process
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20. Texas Project SEARCH sites:
Seton Medical Center Hays
Seton Medical Center Williamson
Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas
University Medical Center Brackenridge
Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions, Garland
Medical Center Lewisville
Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth
United Healthcare, Sugar Land
Baylor/Scott &White Brenham
Baylor/Scott & White College Station
SanMar Distribution, Irving

21. Texas Project SEARCH sites:
Frisco Embassy Suite and Conference Center
Seton Medical Center Northwest
Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, Tyler
City of Lewisville
Baylor Scott & White, Garland
La Cantera Resort & Spa
This Fall:
Texas Children’s Health Plan
San Antonio ISD
Palo Alto Community College
Baylor Scott & White Plans
Lakeway Regional Medical Center

22. Texas Success:
Project SEARCH has grown from 1 program at Seton Healthcare Family in 2007 to 17 programs in various industries in 2015.
Training has begun with 4 new programs to start next school year.
The graduation class in 2014, 78% of the interns in gained competitive integrated employment.
The graduation class of 2015 has increased to 83.5% for competitive integrated employment.
Many of these sites are at 100% employment outcome.

23. Project SEARCH at SanMar, Inc. in Irving
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24. SanMar Distribution center for apparel and accessories
3,500 employees in 8 warehouses across the country
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25. Project SEARCH at SanMar, Inc. Partners
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26. Internship Rotations Internship Locations Employee Store Recycling
Box Program
Restocking
Pulling
Returns
Receiving
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27. Receiving & Box Program
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28. Project SEARCH SanMar Data
Year One
87.5% competitively employed
Year Two
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29. Project SEARCH at La Cantera Hill Country Resort
Utilized 9 departments within first year.
Interns rarely worked within same department as one another.
7 of 10 interns were hired at host site.
Host business supervisors led hiring decision.
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30. Importance of Long term Support
Providing supports after 90 days of coaching is completed.
Ensuring interns are moving forward in process for receiving supports.
Collaborating with interns, families, long-term support coordinator, school with on-site team.
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31. Long Term Service Provider Responsibilities
Confirms eligibility for long term support through the ALA Intake and Eligibility Department; providing a Determination of an Intellectual Disability (DID) for individuals requesting services.
Consumer Benefits screening to ensure eligible individuals are receiving maximum state and federal benefits.
Service Coordination for individuals accessing General Revenue (GR) funded services, HCS and/or TxHmL.
Service Coordination Activities
Communicates with manager at business host site and other team members for issues and problem solving.
Facilitates crisis intervention
Communicates with families or care providers
Links students to other support service agencies or supports as necessary.
Provides employment retention services to student once hired through Supported Employment service.
Supported Employment provider monitors work performance; document progress and issues.

32. Program Success Numerous local national awards and recognition
Project SEARCH Book
High School Transition that Works: Lessons Learned from Project SEARCH®
By Maryellen Daston, Ph.D., J. Erin Riehle, M.S.N., & Susie Rutkowski, M.A., Foreword by Paul Wehman, Ph.D.
Discuss successful outcomes, recognition, book.
Reference that success is more than employment – It is about changing the outcomes for young people with disabilities refer to many interns at Cincinnati Children’s that now live on their own, have married. Reference the “confidence change” that interns and famililes identify at the end of the year.
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33. Project SEARCH Cincinnati
Like us on Facebook –
Project SEARCH Cincinnati
Bon Secours graduation I
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