Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH is a business led collaboration, developed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996, that enables young adults with disabilities to gain and maintain employment through training and career exploration.

A 9–12-month program, Project SEARCH provides total immersion in a large community business. Students with disabilities are offered a workforce alternative for their last year of high school. All participants must be eligible for services with the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). At some sites, young adults who have completed high school may be eligible to participate in Project SEARCH.

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Who is involved?

The Project SEARCH partnership includes a local high-status business, a school, DVR, a Statewide Service Provider and a disability services agency, such as a managed care organization. The business provides an on-site training classroom, business liaison and rotational internships for on-the-job training. The school provides an instructor.

DVR works with a local Statewide Service Provider to supply Skills Trainers who support students onsite in their internships as needed and assist with final job placement. The disability services agency provides follow along services for any eligible student who is hired at the business site or in the community.

What do participants do?

Each day, students report to the host business, learn employability skills in the classroom and job skills through their internships (usually 3-4 internships during the year). Students are encouraged to use public transportation when available, just as they would when employed after high school.

Students and their teams meet monthly for progress reports and to continually refine their career goals and determine concrete next steps. Managers from the host business work with the teacher and job coaches to support the students every step of the way.

What is the goal?

The ultimate goal upon program completion is for students' to obtain competitive placements at the host business or in the community, based on the skills and experience learned during their participation in Project SEARCH.