Amita Health Adventist Medical Center La Grange Project SEARCH
Brookfield Zoo Project SEARCH
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Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH is an Immersion Model Transition Program for a select group of students with disabilities, ages 18 to 22 years, who want to have a job at the completion of the program. Project SEARCH is a unique program which began at Cincinnati's Children Hospital in the mid 1990's. Project SEARCH has grown to over 400 programs internationally. The AMITA Health Adventist La Grange Medical Center's Project SEARCH program is open to all school districts.
The partners in the youth program are LADSE, AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center LaGrange, Helping Hand Center, Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) and The Partnership (Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership). Project SEARCH, designed as a full school year within the host business, includes daily classroom learning and three, 10 week hands-on internships where authentic work learning becomes a priority. Amita Health Adventist Medical Center La Grange Project SEARCH
At AMITA, Project SEARCH interns start and end their day at AMITA Health Medical Center in LaGrange. Students attending this program commit to this internship year as being their last year of school. The goal of the program is to gain employment within the community. At AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center LaGrange Project SEARCH, hospital staff have embraced the interns and their goals for learning systematic and complex work skills along with soft skills that they will need in the future. Interns have many opportunities to build their skill sets alongside their coworkers in a variety of departments including: Cardiac Testing, Coffee Shop, Emergency Room, Environmental Services, Food Services, Healthcare at Home, H.I.M., Nursing Unit, Rehab Services/In-Patient Rehab, Plant Operations, Registration, Radiology, Security, Wound Care, Pastoral Care and the Adventist Foundation. Some interns also extend their internship to AMITA Hinsdale campus. Together, with braided funding and braided support, the program goal remains the same since its inception five years ago: To achieve 100% placement for the fifth year in a row. Brookfield Zoo Project SEARCH
Brookfield Zoo Project SEARCH has recently entered its 3rd year. Over the past 3 years, BrookfieldZoo Project SEARCH has expanded their externship opportunities to include animal and educational programs as well as safety. Externs from the previous two years found employment in the community or with the host business. This years externs continue to learn new skills in the classroom and the departments at Brookfield Zoo. Important skills externs learn include communicating effectively, developing social skills in the workplace, raising their confidence and independence, and creating professional relationships. Every extern has benefited from this training method.
Greg heard about the success stories through his friends at Helping Hand Center so he took the first steps in applying to the program in 2018. Greg was seeking the opportunity to gain new skills and start his journey on finding a position in food service. Upon starting his externship, Greg was soft spoken and searching for ways to improve his communication skills. With the support of Project SEARCH staff and his supervisors at the zoo, he soon found the confidence he needed to effectively communicate to Project SEARCH staff and acquire the skills in order to succeed. He learned how to use a cell phone and set his own alarms to ensure he is always in a timely manner. Greg was also one of the first externs to successfully navigate all 216 acres of Brookfield Zoo. Greg’s managers have commented on how his personality is blossoming and his soft skills are growing. Greg has managed to successfully keep his work space and job tasks organized and work independently. “Greg is a very hard worker. He is always on time and knows his daily routine and knows who key staff members are,” say BZ Red Hots Manager, Julie Podjaski. “We love having Greg here and working with Project SEARCH.” Lead supervisor of BZ Red Hots, Georgina Lopez, has recently approached staff to encouraged Greg to apply for their open Food Service position. Georgina commended Greg on his hard work and the continuous need to keep working towards his goal or becoming a BZ Red Hots employee. Greg states “I love being a part of the BZ Red Hots team. This is one reason why I love Project SEARCH.” |
