Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH was developed in 1996 as a partnership between Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Great Oaks Career Campuses, and the Hamilton County Board of Developmental Disability Services in Ohio. These agencies worked together to create a program to fill employment needs in high-turnover, entry-level positions at the hospital while offering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the area the opportunity to learn new and marketable skills and obtain gainful employment. Project SEARCH has grown into a large network of over 500 sites within the United States and ten countries.

Follow this link to learn more about the national Project SEARCH https://www.projectsearch.us

Project SEARCH at Concord Hospital

Project SEARCH at Concord Hospital is nationally recognized as one of five official Project SEARCH sites in New Hampshire. The Project SEARCH at Concord Hospital adheres to the core standards of the national model, and are part of the broader Project SEARCH national initiative.

Project SEARCH is truly part of the fabric of Concord Hospital! We have active support and recognition from the hospital’s leadership, human resources, and many departments. All of our activities take place on the Concord Hospital campus.

There are two focuses in the Project Search experience. One focus is the hands-on experience at an assigned internship. Interns participate in three internships, in various departments throughout the hospital, over the course of the program. Interns work directly with, and are supported by, department supervisors and staff. Each internship provides total immersion in the department with a focus on developing real workforce skill sets, and exposure to a variety of career paths.

The other focus is classroom time where interns are guided by the Instructor and Skills Trainers through a curriculum that instills a variety of skills that are needed for success in employment and in life!

“This experience has helped me grow by learning skills I never knew I could do. It has made me a better employee because I used to never take constructive criticism well, now I know it helps me learn. This program has shown me that I can do whatever I set my mind to.”

Check out this video created by the 2020-2021 Project SEARCH at Concord Hospital Interns. You will learn a little bit about their internships, hear their thoughts about their experience and see them in action! https://youtu.be/bmLUp2aiZ1k .

Project SEARCH at Concord Hospital is a Partnership

Community Bridges proudly collaborates with the following partners to make the Project SEARCH Program at Concord Hospital a reality:

Concord Hospital logo

Business Host and Program Site

New Hampshire Vocational Rehab Logo Provides a portion of the funding to support Skills Trainers for each internship and classroom support. NHVR also connects all Project SEARCH sites in the state with national Project SEARCH initiatives.

Concord School District logo

Provides the instructor and shares program oversight

Upper right is a dark blue triangular figure with out stretched arms overlaying a lime green semicircle. In the off centered dark blue lettering reads Community Choices. Under the word Community, in lime green reads Personalized support services

Provides the Skills Instructors to support students in the classroom, provide internship monitoring, and conduct job development for post SEARCH job placement in community businesses

“Apply to Project SEARCH! It will be a life changing experience for you as it has been for me!”

Eligibility:

All potential interns must meet the following criteria:

Have post-education employment as a desired life outcome
Be between 19 and 35 years of age
Be eligible for Community Bridges or another DD services area agency
Be eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation
Demonstrate ability to take personal responsibility, communicate respectfully, listen openly and attentively, and accept constructive and learn from it
Possess a level of independence and self-reliance in order to engage in the program without the need for 1:1 support

See our FAQs for more information.

Application Process:

The Project SEARCH application process involves several steps including application, documentation review and interview with a selection committee.
Verification of eligibility with partner agencies, and tuition funding plan must be confirmed.
Applications typically available beginning in November, and due in January for the following year
Interviews typically take place in February and acceptance decisions made in March.

See our FAQs page for more information.

Project SEARCH Primary Contact

Stephanie Brasley, Project SEARCH at Concord Hospital at sbrasley@crhc.org or sbrasley@sau8.org or at 603-415-6646

Maureen LaClair, Community Bridges project SEARCH Liaison at mlaclair@cbinnh.org or at 226-3212 ext. 228

Be sure to visit our FAQs page.

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