Project SEARCH is a collaborative, site based initiative between Summa Health and the Six District Educational Compact. This program, located at Summa Health, helps qualified students make a successful transition from school to the world of work by experiencing hands-on-learning in real world settings.
Student interns spend a year rotating through job experiences based on their interests and abilities. The rotations are designed to give students the opportunity to develop their workplace skills and prepare them for competitive employment. Examples of rotation sites include shipping and receiving, distribution, laundry, patient transport, food and nutrition, information and technologies, nursing education and other.
Participants must be:
Each applicant must fill out a Student Application, have a parent or guardian complete a Parent Application, and have their intervention specialist complete a Teacher Application prior to March 7, 2025.
Each applicant must fill out a Student Application.
Have a parent or guardian complete a Parent Application.
Have an intervention specialist complete a Teacher Application.
Job coaches are available to help the interns learn their jobs and improve their skills, while promoting independence. Throughout the day, they move from student to student offering support and coaching. Community and Workforce Development partners include the Board of Developmental Disabilities, Goodwill Industries, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD-BVR-BVSI). Kent State University Transitions Collaborative, Coleman Behavioral health and Metro Regional Transit Authority.
In 2005, Summa Health started its collaboration with the Six District Educational Compact as the two groups implemented this internationally recognized model, first started at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 1996. Visit www.projectsearch.us for more information. In its first 10 years, Summa Health has hired about 25% of all Project SEARCH interns. Approximately 75% of this group are still employed at Summa.
Project SEARCH’s Coordinator works with each student, family and district Intervention Specialist to find just the right work rotations. As the year progresses, the Coordinator helps the students explore the possibilities of employment and discusses how to access adult service agencies when appropriate.
