Introduction
Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in1996 by Erin
Riehle, the Director of the Emergency Department. It now has over twenty years of proven success
with business partners such as hospitals, colleges/universities, and banking institutions. There are
currently over 450 sites in 42 countries as well as in Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and
Holland.
Project SEARCH was brought to Iowa in 2011 when Iowa Health Systems (now UnityPoint) of Des
Moines collaborated with Optimae Life Services to start the first site in Iowa at Methodist Hospital.
Other sites have now been established across the state, including Mercy Hospital in Des Moines,
Mercy Hospital in Mason City, Jefferson County Regional Health Center in Fairfield, DMACC in
Ankeny, Hy-Vee in Windsor Heights, ChildServe in Johnston, and St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar
Rapids.
What is Project SEARCH?
Project SEARCH is a unique business-led, one-year, school-to-work program that takes place entirely
at the workplace. The total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom
instruction, career exploration, and relevant job-skills training through strategically designed
internships.
The goal for each intern is to gain competitive employment upon the completion of the program.
The program provides the intern with real-life work experience combined with training in
employability and independent living skills to help youth with significant disabilities make successful
transitions from school to productive adult life. Project SEARCH involves an extensive period of
training and career exploration, innovative adaptations, long-term job coaching, and continuous
feedback from all those working with the intern. The ultimate goal is that the intern is employed in a
complex and rewarding job in the community. One of the far-reaching benefits of Project SEARCH is
that it can bring about long-term attitudinal changes in the business culture of the participating
organization that can lead to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
History of Project SEARCH
Eligibility
Project SEARCH serves young adults with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities.
These young adults are typically those students who had an Individual Education Program (IEP) while
in school. The most important criterion for acceptance into Project SEARCH is a desire to achieve
competitive employment upon completion of the program.
Program Overview
Interns attend the school-to-work program for an entire school year in the host business. The interns
receive employee orientation, hands-on skill assessment, and familiarization of the business
environment during the first week or two of the program. They also develop a career plan that
guides the internship selection process and individualized job search.
Throughout the school year, the students work on employability and functional skills. Classroom
activities are designed around Team Building, Getting Around the Workplace, Workplace Safety,
Technology, Social Skills, Communication Presentation Skills, Interviewing Skills, Money
Management, Health and Wellness, Job Search Skills, and Keeping a Job.
Throughout the school year, interns rotate through a series of targeted internships. The internships are
designed to help the young adults acquire competitive, marketable and transferable skills to enable
them to apply for related positions within the community. Equally important, the young adults build
communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills which are important to their overall development as a worker.
For more information related to Project SEARCH, go to the national website at Project SEARCH
