Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (MLH) understands that there’s a need for young adults and teenagers with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have an active role in society and in the workplace.
To coincide with this vision, five years ago the hospital group implemented the Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work Program, a national employment preparation program that is designed to transition special needs students from high school to employment through internships. Through them, interns gain useful workplace knowledge and skills essential for work in entry-level positions at participating locations.
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital was the first of the MLH group to participate in the program. Last year, the program was extended to include Methodist North Hospital.
To qualify for the program, special needs high school students in the Shelby County Schools (SCS) system must be referred by their teachers and then undergo an assessment process. Once accepted, interns begin the one-year program, starting off with classroom instruction and skills training.
“During their first three weeks, students learn about the Project SEARCH curriculum, which is provided to us by Shelby County Schools,” says Rebecca Kigaita, a second-year Project SEARCH teacher at Methodist North Hospital.
Classroom studies cover a variety of topics, including team building, workplace safety, technology, self-advocacy, preparing for and maintaining employment, health and wellness, and money management.
Once the training period is over, interns begin 10-week rotational internships, applying what they’ve learned in the classroom.
At Methodist North, interns rotate through departments, executing tasks like food preparation, sanitation, sterile processing, security, material management, ground maintenance, patient transport, and administrative work.
Project SEARCH in Memphis has partnered with host sites (which include the Peabody and Sheraton Hotels), SCS, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and Milestone Staffing to provide employment readiness services to interns.
“This has been transformative not only for the students, but also for our associates.”
Not only does SCS refer students to the program, they also provide mentorship and leadership training to associates who are paired with the interns during rotations. “This has been transformative not only for the students, but also for our associates,” says Kevin Barton, human resources director at Methodist North Hospital.
SCS has also begun to take what they’ve learned through Project SEARCH and apply it to curriculums in their special education classes.
Interns attend employment planning meetings during rotations so that Milestone Staffing and Vocational Rehabilitation Services can match their skills to employment best suited to them. These partners work together to provide comprehensive training and support for interns during the program and beyond. Milestone Staffing provides on-site trainers and support, investigates long-term employment and support like Ticket-to-Work or PASS plans, and works as a liaison between managers, workers, and co-workers. Vocational Rehabilitation Services helps provide funding for services, as well as other intern support, such as transportation, meals, and uniforms.
Kigaita thinks programs like this are empowering to her students.“These students and interns have been told all their lives, ‘You cannot do this because you have a disability, and you are not capable,’” she says. “But in the program, we empower them and remind them that they have strengths and they can capitalize on those strengths to become a better person and a productive member of society.”
With a combined employment rate of 75 percent between Methodist North Hospital and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, the possibilities for interns are endless.
“Our students are pursuing a variety of opportunities,” Barton says. “One student went to work for the TSA, and we had actually offered him a position. But how amazing it was for him to be in a position to turn us down because his goal was to work with TSA!”
Another graduate, Rod Powell, got a job working for Methodist North Hospital. He was offered two positions, but he chose to work transporting patients after discharge over material management.
“I like talking to people and encouraging people who are in pain,” says Powell. “Also, I like learning the independence and work skills.”
Elronzo Akins, a new intern to the program, spoke about his excitement for joining Project SEARCH. “I’m excited to learn about the hospital, meet new faces, and gain new skills,” he says. “I know this program is good for kids with disabilities, and I know I can do it.” Akins hopes to work in patient escort or food and nutrition at Methodist North when his internship is complete.
Besides successfully gaining employment opportunities, interns are exhibiting growth in confidence and independence. Karen Faught, director of human resources at Le Bonheur, has noticed a complete turnaround with interns at her host site. “When interns start the program, they’re just barely talking above a whisper, and by the end of the program, they’re able to speak in front of groups. Once they get acclimated into the work area, you can’t even tell who the graduates are,” she says. “Some of our students have even gotten driver’s licenses and cars as a result of our program.”
Faught says the program is a natural addition to Le Bonheur. “We enjoy the program, and it’s an excellent fit for us because a lot of the students were patients here. So they already knew the hospital and their way around it,” she says.
To learn more about Project SEARCH, or to inquire about implementing this program at your organization, visit projectsearch.us.
Julia Baker, a second-generation journalist, is a staff writer for Memphis Parent magazine and a University of Memphis junior.