by Mary-Kate Roan
Staff Writer
Shands Jacksonville recently welcomed a new group of students but they weren’t residents in medical school. Instead the hospital welcomed nine new students who were a part of the Project SEARCH program, a nationwide transition program for disabled adults and students.
The Shands SEARCH project is sponsoring a high school transition program for disabled people to learn job skills while completely immersed in a working environment.
“It’s a workforce development program for young adults,” said Kelli Bloom, Access to Success director at Hope Haven Children’s Clinic and leader of the Project SEARCH program at Shands. “The goal is paid employment for the students.”
The prospective students are chosen after a selection process where they qualify through Hope Haven and are interviewed.
“We have nine interns this year,” said Bloom. “Each person does three 10-week rotation internships.”
The students are given the chance to complete their internships in things like central supply and health information, where the student learns the process of preparing and scanning health records. There is also a position to help with patient transportation.
“They help patients get in and out of their wheelchairs and things like that,” said Bill Davis, Shands human resources director and business liaison to the project.
As business liaison, Davis identifies employment openings throughout the hospital that interns can fill during their time in the program.
“They learn job skills and overall independence,” said Davis.
The program at Shands isn’t the first of its kind – it started 11 years ago at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Since then, Project SEARCH has grown to involve more than 70 cities across the nation.
“Jacksonville is very lucky to have one (of the programs),” said Nancy Hanisch, employment coordinator at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
The skills set can be invaluable to interns looking to succeed in the working world.
“We teach employment skills, stress management and other things you’d need to learn to join the workforce,” said Melissa Melvin, an instructor for Project SEARCH.
Intern prerequisites include reaching second or third grade levels in math and reading, maintaining appropriate social, hygiene and grooming abilities and updated immunizations.
For more information on the Project SEARCH program go to www.cincinbatichildrens.org or call Bloom at 356-5100.
356-2466