1. Project SEARCH Volusia County
2018

2. History of Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 1996.
Erin Riehle was Director of Cincinnati Children’s Emergency Department and Susie Rutkowski, Special Education Director at Great Oaks Career Campuses. Erin and Susie formed a partnership that was instantaneous, and together they launched Project SEARCH.
Project SEARCH has grown from a single program site at Cincinnati Children’s to a large and continuously expanding international network of sites.
Project SEARCH’s primary objective is to secure competitive employment for people with disabilities

3. Project SEARCH Requirements
Student Selection
MOU
Open House
School Coding
IEP’s, etc.

4. Volusia County Project SEARCH
Project Hospital
2016 on east side of Volusia
Project University
2017 on west side of Volusia

6. Project SEARCH@Halifax Health Staff
Instructor - Volusia County Schools
Patty Snyder
Employment Specialist - Volusia County Schools
Vickie Parnell
Skills Trainer - Progressive Abilities Support Services
Braandon Davis
Business Liaison - Halifax Health
W.G. Watts

7. Project SEARCH@Stetson University
Instructor - Volusia County Schools
Karen Hook
Employment Specialist - Volusia County Schools
Donna Kehrley
Skills trainer - Progressive Abilities Support Services
Maggie Fraga
Business Liaison – Stetson University
Kevin Winchell

8. Project SEARCH Program Description
One year program (aligns with Volusia County Schools calendar)
interns (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 competitive employment

9. Basic Eligibility Guidelines
Students in their last year of public education with a variety of
disabilities
Appropriate hygiene, social and communication skills
Ability to take direction and change behavior
Access public transportation(Votran or Votran-Gold)
Pass drug screen, background check, immunizations - whatever
is required of other employees
Desire to Work!

10. Program Goal Competitive employment for each Project SEARCH intern
16 hours a week or more
Minimum wage or better
Integrated Setting
Non-Seasonal
Bonus Activities Achieved:
Culture change at the host business as the work skills of young adults with disabilities are recognized
Publicly funded systems working together

11. Project SEARCH Curriculum
Team Building
Interviewing Skills
Social Skills
Explore transportation options
Self-Advocacy Skills
Workplace Safety
Technology in the workplace
Personal Finance
Nutrition and Wellness
Job Search
Mock Interviews
Resume Building
Project SEARCH Curriculum

12. Project SEARCH Schedule
8: Classroom Time/Employability Skills
9: Worksites
11: Lunch
12: Worksites
2: Review, Reflect, Plan
2: Depart
Project SEARCH Schedule

13. Project SEARCH @Halifax Health

14. Rotations Brooks Rehab Center Dietary- Special Functions
Hostess /Dietary Aide 
Environmental Services –  Housekeeping
Dietary -Food Prep 
Supply Processing & Distribution (SPD)  
Emergency Room (ER) 
Patient Access
NICU- 2nd Floor
Health Information Management (HIM)
Laundry
Lab
CPCT
Receiving

15. Project SEARCH @ Stetson University

16. Rotations Center for Community Engagement-Office Assistants
Parent & Alumni Engagement
Hollis Recreation and Wellness
Residential Living and Learning- Building Appearance Assistants & Digital Conversion Project
Bookstore
World Center for International Learning
Academic Success and Accessibility- Digital Conversion Project
Marketing
Lynn Business Center- Work Study
Student Counseling Services and Wellness
Dining Services
Rotations

17. Research Indications Work-Based Learning Promotes: Problem Solving
Adult Thinking processes
Team work
Social relationships
Flexibility

18. Employment Planning Meetings
Held once or twice a rotation
Interns lead the meetings to discuss their progress
Interns Team:
 Intern’s Parents/Guardians VCS Instructor
 Job Coaches  PASS Project SEARCH Area Supervisor
 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor  Halifax Health Business Liaison
 Department Supervisor or Mentor  VCS Instructional Specialist

19. Internships s Build competitive, marketable, transferable skills
4 – 5 hours each day
10-12 weeks/flexible
Work and social skills
Multi-faceted evaluation
Internships s

20. Project SEARCH@Halifax Health

21. Project SEARCH@ Stetson University

22. Volusia County Schools
Cathy Galotti
Instructional Specialist
Karen Hook
Instructor
Patricia Snyder
Instructor
Donna Kehrley
Employment Specialist
Vickie Parnell
Volusia County Schools

23. Progressive Abilities Support Services
Jim Atkinson
Chief Executive Officer
Kim Cherry
Project Search Coordinator
Progressive Abilities Support Services
Braandon Davis
Skills Trainer
Maggie Fraga