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DWD, Marshfield Medical Center Celebrate Graduation of Nine Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH program prepares young adults with disabilities for rewarding careers

MARSHFIELD – Jordan Anderson spent the past nine months, "making friendships with people in similar situations as myself and expanding my work experience in other career fields."

Thanks to Project SEARCH, Jordan and several of his classmates will begin permanent positions at Marshfield Medical Center following graduation from the program. Jordan has been offered a full-time job as a receptionist in the hospital's Gastroenterology Department.

"The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development celebrates over 180 Project SEARCH graduates throughout the state who have explored new skills, expanded their opportunities, and earned a sense of pride through rewarding work," said DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek. "In Wisconsin, some 171,000 people with disabilities are not attached to the labor market, yet we know many want to work. With our record-low unemployment rate, supporting these individuals in achieving their employment potential has never been more important."

The graduation ceremony at the Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield on Friday, May 20 marked the completion of an immersive work experience. The nine interns recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities.

In addition to the host site, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including service provider Opportunity Development Centers, Inc., managed care organizations Inclusa, Lakeland Care, and Comprehensive Community Services, UW-Whitewater, and the Abbotsford, Auburndale, Pittsville, and Marshfield Unified school districts. Statewide, 25 premier employers are participating in Project SEARCH this year.

Project SEARCH is a collaborative effort among state vocational rehabilitation agencies, area schools, local employers, and long-term care organizations to help interns acquire marketable, competitive, and transferable skills that lead to employment. The interns complete multiple 10-week rotations to maximize exposure to different career paths, learning employability skills in a classroom and hands-on job skills within the business environment.

Started at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996, Project SEARCH has provided workforce training to nearly 1,500 Wisconsinites since its statewide launch in 2008. For more information, visit the Project SEARCH Wisconsin website.

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Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.