Project SEARCH is business-led collaboration that enables young adults with disabilities to gain and maintain employment through training and career exploration! How did Project SEARCH evolve? Project SEARCH was developed in 1996 by Nurse J. Erin Riehle, then the Director of the Emergency room at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She was in need of a reliable worker to stock supplies. She worked with Jennifer Linnabary, a job developer with the Hamilton County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (current Project SEARCH Employment Coordinator) and Susie Rutkowski, Great Oaks Manager of Disability Education (current Project SEARCH Educational Specialist). The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission was also involved through supporting job coaching services. They selected Annie Sublett, who has Down syndrome to work in the emergency department. Annie now works full time at Children's Hospital 15 room Dental Clinic where she sterilizes and sorts instruments and is very successful. As a result of Project SEARCH over 60 individuals with disabilities are employed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in a wide variety of non-traditional jobs. PathPoint utilizes the Project SEARCH model; a school-to-work program for participants with disabilities that takes place entirely at an employer worksite. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and on-the-job training and support. Although originally started in hospitals, the Project SEARCH vocational training model now takes place in banks, universities, manufacturing and many other employer sites including Courthouses. The goal for each participant is competitive employment somewhere in the community using the skills they have acquired. The PathPoint Project SEARCH program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to empower participants served to make successful transitions to / within the workforce. Worksite Internship -Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center: Participants build communication and problem-solving skills, as well as job-specific skills, through worksite rotations. These are unpaid internships analogous to the clinical rotations that are part of every medical school curriculum and many other professional career programs. Participants will spend the first week of the program completing orientation to employer protocol, culture and facilities. Worksite rotations begin around the second and third week of the program, usually totaling three to four sites per participant by the end of the program. The participant and Direct Support Professional (DSP; PathPoint Instructor) work together to choose worksites based on that participant s previous work experience, interests, and skills assessment. For each worksite rotation participants will prepare a resume, interview with the Department Supervisor and/or Manager. Time spent at each work experience is flexible. Participants may spend several weeks to several months at each worksite depending on factors such as employer needs, the complexity of the job, tasks to be learned, and benefits to the participant. DSPs and department staff collaborate to provide support for participants. DSPs/staff begin to phase out when a participant gains independence on certain tasks. Participants may also participate in more than one work experience at a time, depending on the scheduling needs of the employer and the participant. At the end of the worksite rotation, participants will submit a letter of resignation and have an exit interview. WORKSITE ROTATION SELECTION process to develop worksite rotations: Work with UCLA Business Liaison to identify targeted positions Perform worksite analysis and submit reports to department managers Coordinate and provide worksite support (initial training, adaptations, accommodations) Facilitate communication with families and community organizations that provide support
Internship Positions currently available at Project SEARCH UCLA Health Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Westwood) Nursing: Administrative Assistant Stocking/Inventory Decontamination Equipment Patient Escort Sustainability and Recycling Janitor according to date and other alphanumerical systems, use of medical terminology, general office administration skills Stocking inventory by type and quantity, using product codes to identify products, recording inventory in spreadsheet, using proper safety precautions and body mechanics (lifting, bending, pushing), knowledge of medical terminology, some by date and department codes, terminology, making deliveries, Sanitizing medical equipment, equipment and terminology, organizational skills, following safety and sanitation procedures Stocking and organizing, sanitizing medical equipment, equipment and terminology, following safety and sanitation procedures, making deliveries, proper lifting techniques, and some Customer service, interacting /assisting patients, family members and staff. Following safety procedures, navigating throughout the hospital to transport patients, using proper body mechanism to transport equipment, multi-tasking and problem solving skills Organizational and navigational skills, time management, following safety procedures, and Organizational and navigational skills, time management, following safety and sanitation procedures, and customer service, organizational skills, communication skills, ability to switch tasks frequently and multitask. Organization, lifting, multitasking, time management, taking initiative, working independently, checking own work for accuracy, communication, punctuality Organization, taking initiative, ability to work independently, attention to detail, following written instructions, punctuality Organization, time management and meeting deadlines, attention to details, ability to work on a repetitive task, ability to work independently, communication, punctuality Organization, time management and meeting deadlines, attention to details, ability to work on a repetitive task Ability to multitask Greet and acknowledge staff Learn to work in fast paced Ability to meet deadlines Maintain confidentiality s Greet and acknowledge customers /staff s Greet customers and staff Administrative assistant, clerical Stocking in healthcare facilities, retail s, grocery stores, warehouses, pick and pack deliveries, clerical sanitation sanitation Patient transportation in healthcare and caregiving facilities Custodial positions in hotels, healthcare facilities, restaurants, retail centers Custodial positions in hotels, healthcare facilities, restaurants, retail centers
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Westwood) Marketing: Publications Distributor Catering Food Service Cafeteria Food Service Kitchen Food Service Custodian Dish Room Food Service Laundry & Linen Svc: Linen Distributor (Scrubs) To gain knowledge of hospital s layout, organizational skills, distribution, and some Assembling trays of desserts according to line items on purchase orders, product organization and presentation, making deliveries, following proper sanitation procedures, time management, customer service Customer service, organizational skills, time management, gain knowledge of multi-tasking and fast paced Preparing /assembling of light meals (salads, Jell-o, sandwiches), proper sanitation procedures, time management and labeling food items cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, sweeping and mopping floors, disposing of waste by type (landfill, recycling, compost), using dish room facilities to wash and restock trays, ability to learn while working in a fast paced, time management, multitasking, problem solving and organizational skills ability to learn working in a fast paced, multitasking, problem solving and organizational skills Customer service (interaction with doctors and vendors), organizational and navigational skills and time management Gain sense of direction Self-Confidence Ability to multitask Teamwork Self-starter skills s Meeting deadlines Greet and acknowledge Customers and staff Ability to perform a repetitive task Ability to perform repetitive tasks Distribution and marketing Most phases of food service, catering, Nutrition department, cafeteria, restaurants Nutrition department, cafeteria, restaurants Any custodial position, especially in food service locations Dishwasher in restaurant, bar or cafeteria Linen distribution
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Westwood) Laundry & Linen Services / Administrative Clerk Department of Human Resources: File Clerk Department of Safety and Security: Administrative Assistant Apollo Couriers: Courier and time management and time management Using computer software to create employee badges, providing while moderating waiting line, filing, and time management Delivering specimens between hospital departments and laboratories, using cellphone to communicate with staff regarding deliveries, accurately inputting data for each delivery. Detail orientation Punctuality Reliability Courier, transportation and delivery UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica Nutrition: Custodian Nutrition: Food Services Patient Transport: Transport Mailroom Clerk according to date and other alphanumerical systems, use of medical terminology, general office administration skills Rolling Silverware (including washing and sorting), matting meal trays, assisting in the dish room Customer service, interacting /assisting patients, family members and staff. Following safety procedures, navigating throughout the hospital to transport patients, using proper body mechanism to transport equipment, multi-tasking and problem solving skills time management, processing outgoing mail with the postage machine, and delivering mail and packages around the hospital, organizational skills, communication skills, ability to switch tasks frequently and multitask. Greet and acknowledge staff Learn to work in fast paced Ability to meet deadlines Maintain confidentiality Detail Orientation Nutrition, restaurants Nutrition, restaurants Patient transportation in healthcare and caregiving facilities, mail rooms
Project SEARCH has provided job analysis reports to the PathPoint Project SEARCH team for each of the positions listed above along with positions for other non hospital settings. They have also developed innovative training aids and job accommodations for streamlining many of these positions, which they share with the Ronald Reagan UCLA Med Ctr. EVS Department Recycling Tech Nutrition Department-Food Service Entrance Criteria Project SEARCH Entrance Criteria and Eligibility Requirements Be at least 18 years of age. Be a current active client of Westside Regional Center (if shared case and WRC does not hold fiscal responsibility, other eligible RC s, at this time, include ELARC, SGPR, HRC, Lanterman, and Alta). o Note: A candidate may also be accepted for the host site if fiscal responsibility is assigned to a different Regional Center (as courtesy vendorization may be an option) Have independent personal hygiene, grooming, and daily living skills. Maintain appropriate behavior and social skills in the workplace. Take direction from supervisors and alter behavior / actions accordingly. Be able to communicate effectively. Utilize public transportation when available and participate in travel training to insure success in using the bus independently. Successfully pass UCLA required live scan (background check) and have negative TB test results. o This process is completed and funded by internship site. Desire and plan to work competitively, in an individual setting in the community at the conclusion of the Project SEARCH program. Contact info: Please contact Program Coordinator Jason White at jason.white@pathpoint.org or call (310) 267.4574. Learning. Living. Building Communities since 1964. www.pathpoint.org