Holmes Regional Medical Center, Cape Canaveral Hospital and Health First - Project SEARCH in Brevard County

Overview

Project SEARCH provides vocational training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Implemented at Holmes Regional Medical Center, the program is composed of an Adult Employment Program and a High School Transition Program (a one-year program for high school seniors). Both programs consist of 270 classroom hours with a school board instructor and a nine-month internship at the hospital or with a local business with a trained job coach. The class curriculum includes communication skills, problem solving and business culture as well as specific training.

The abilities of individuals with disabilities are matched with a job coach and actual hospital jobs such as medical records clerk, pump technician, dietary, cashier, pharmacy technician, and others. Educational support is provided to both the job trainees and employer. The program also trains individuals for positions in the business community.

Impact

Project SEARCH was first implemented in Florida at Holmes Regional Medical Center in 2007 and has since expanded to two other Health First hospitals—Cape Canaveral Hospital and Palm Bay Hospital. This workforce development program benefits the individual and the workplace. It has evolved into an ongoing vocational training program by the hospitals with assistance from local businesses. To date, 88 students have graduated from the program, and 63 students and five adults have been placed in competitive jobs at Health First facilities or with other area employers.

Challenges/success factors

This program helps to build successful lives. It also helps the hospital fill critical jobs within its own workforce. The hospital as well as other employers have found that employees with special abilities are some of their most valued and dependable employees. Graduates of Project SEARCH have proved to be dedicated employees who have considerably lower turnover rates than other employees in the same jobs, thus saving employers the cost of recruiting and retraining employees.

Future direction/sustainability

The program is sustained by Vocational Rehabilitation and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities employment placement funding, as well as in-kind funding by the host agency and school system.

Advice to others

Visit a Project SEARCH program to learn the opportunities and challenges of establishing such a program. Create a detailed business plan to illustrate the true cost and benefits of implementing the SEARCH program. Include salaries and benefits, classroom space, supplies, and involvement of hospital managers. Also include estimates regarding cost savings or avoidance from lower turnover (recruitment, hiring and orientation and training).

Identify community partners that can help start and run the program—get information on the job market beyond the hospital walls. Identify organizations that might offer help and resources, such as classroom space and/or vocational coaches, and that may provide jobs for graduates.

Contact: Maureen Tills
Coordinator, Community Benefit
Telephone: 321-434-4327
E-mail: Maureen.Tills@health-first.org