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Building Blocks for developing a Project SEARCH site Texas Transition Conference

Building Blocks for developing a Project SEARCH site Texas Transition Conference February 21-22, 2012. Sources :

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Building Blocks for developing a Project SEARCH site Texas Transition Conference

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  1. Building Blocks for developing a Project SEARCH site Texas Transition Conference February 21-22, 2012 Sources: High School Transition that Works! Lessons Learned from Project SEARCH, Datson, Riehle, Rutkowski 2012; Project SEARCH website, www.projectsearch.us; Project SEARCH 101, Riehle 2012

  2. The Model The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a unique, business led, one year school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations.

  3. The History Developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in 1996, when the Director of Cincinnati Children’s Emergency Department felt that, because the hospital served individuals with intellectual disabilities, it made sense they should commit to hiring people in this group.

  4. The Goal The goal for each participant is competitive employment. Project SEARCH provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help individuals with intellectual disabilities make successful transitions to employment.

  5. The Timeline

  6. The Partners • Education: School District, Career Technical School, Educational Service Center, etc. • Vocational Rehabilitation (DARS) • Community Rehabilitation Partner (provider of job coaching and job development) • Long-term provider (usually a developmental disabilities organization that provides follow-along services) • Business (can begin planning before host business is identified)

  7. The Roles

  8. The Components • The outcome of the program is integrated employment for each participant. • Collaboration: Project SEARCH is a partnership with support and resources from Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Long-term support agency, and a Community Rehabilitation Provider. • Program is business led. • The partners provide a consistent on-site staff in order to achieve a single point of entry. • Program focus is on serving young adults with (a variety of) developmental disabilities. • Braided funding is in place between the non-business partners. • There is total immersion of students and/or employees at the host business. • Partners will agree on the definition of employment and data will be collected on participants and employment outcomes using the Project SEARCH data base. • Project SEARCH graduates receive Follow Along services to retain employment. • Each site has a licensing agreement signed with Project SEARCH Cincinnati through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

  9. The License Every Project SEARCH effort requires a licensing agreement from the National Project SEARCH office ProjectSEARCH@cchmc.org

  10. The Business A host business for Project SEARCH ideally has: 200+ employees or associates A cafeteria on site A variety of jobs Easy access to a public transportation route Project SEARCH is a natural match for the healthcare setting, however the model has been successfully replicated in universities, banks, public/private businesses and just recently, at the US Department of Education and the US Department of Labor.

  11. The Lessons Learned Collaboration is key Approaches to vocational strategies typically differ, but Project SEARCH is about transformation and systemic change with partners in order to build a strong program Find a champion in each partner Someone who is a leader and has innovative vision Implementation takes time Plan ahead and give all partners time to prepare accordingly Strong communication Breakdown in communication is likely to happen with so many people and organizations involved so develop a detailed communication plan that includes all partners

  12. The Story

  13. The Great News for Texas!

  14. Project SEARCH TechWorks for Texas • The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities has awarded a grant to Texas Tech to assist in the rollout for Project SEARCH statewide

  15. What will TechWorks do? • Collaborate with state agencies • Collaborate with local community teams • Document Lessons Learned for how to do Project SEARCH in Texas

  16. Collaboration with Communities • Provide seed funding for 3new Texas communities per year. • Assist communities with information about Project SEACH. • Assist community teams with preparation for training and technical assistance from Project SEARCH.

  17. Project SEARCH TechWorks DeAnn Lechtenberger, Project Director Burkhart Center for Autism Education & Research Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas 806-742-1997 ext 324

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