Project SEARCH

In 1995 the American College of Healthcare Executives adopted a policy statement that reads, in part, "...healthcare executives must take the lead in their organizations to increase employment opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities and to advocate on behalf of their employment to other organizations in their communities."

With this statement as a guiding principle, Project SEARCH serves people with disabilities through innovative workforce and career development. Through this process, they also educate employers about the potential of this underutilized workforce while meeting their human resource needs.

Project SEARCH provides employment and education opportunities for transition- aged youth with disabilities through:

- High School Transition Program--A one-year, worksite-based school-to-work program for youths with developmental and/or physical disabilities in their last year of high school eligibility. Worksites include local hospitals or financial institutions.
- Vocational-Education Clinic--A highly individualized approach for Cincinnati Children's patients with disabilities or chronic illness (ages 14 and older) to address vocational, educational, training and employment goals.

Project SEARCH also provides services for adults and for other organizations:

- Adult Employment Program--Comprehensive employment, job retention, and career advancement services for adults with disabilities. This includes older youth and young adults who have left the public school system.
- Health Care Training Program--Customized short-term training for adults with significant barriers to employment such as major economic disadvantages, or physical and/or learning disabilities.
- Program Replication and Dissemination--Tours, individualized consultation, and group workshops for supported employment and special education professionals.

The goal of this program is to increase employment opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities and to advocate on behalf of their employment to other organizations in their communities.

As of August, 2005, the Cincinnati Project SEARCH program claimed the following results:

-634 patients of the hospital had received vocational or educational guidance through the project
-156 students had received training in independent living and employability skills, and specific job skills through the Project SEARCH High School Transition Program
-109 High School Transition Program graduates were placed in competitive employment at Project SEARCH sites and throughout the Cincinnati metro area
-319 individuals had achieved employment through the Health Care Training Program