Greenville, N.C. – Project SEARCH, an educational program offered at ECU Health Medical Center, is proud to announce five students recently graduated from the program: Dasani Cherry, Denise Clemons, Deshanti Morris, Jah’Terrion Sherrod and Joshua Tripp. Project SEARCH is a one-year internship program for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities during their last year of high school with the goal of providing real-world practical skills and increasing their chances of competitive employment.
“Project SEARCH at ECU Health is a place where students have the opportunity to gain essential job skills and grow,” said Doris Hill, Project SEARCH coordinator at ECU Health. “When our students pick up new skills it’s not just a win for them, but also for our hospital and our community. Witnessing their growth and success is truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing them thrive in their careers.”
The Project SEARCH program at ECU Health Medical Center began in 2015 through partnerships with Pitt County Schools, McCloud & Associates, Inc. and Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. Students complete internships in various departments at the hospital including the ECHO Lab, Gastrointestinal Lab, Central Services, hospital cafeterias, Hospitality, Shipping and Receiving, Neuroscience Intermediate Unit, Heart Café, Physician Lounge and Pediatrics.
This year’s students who participated in the program are enrolled at various Pitt County high schools including Farmville Central High School, J.H. Rose High School, North Pitt High School and South Central High School.
“Seeing Project SEARCH students grow, learn new skills, and discover what they can do through Project SEARCH is really uplifting,” said Jay Cotton, Project SEARCH instructor. “Their dedication and hard work will help them in their future jobs, and it feels great to play a part in their journey as they get ready for rewarding careers.”
The employment rate for youth with disabilities is about 60 to 70 percent less than youth without disabilities, according to the Office of Disability Employment Policy. Project SEARCH has proven results with a 65 percent employment and 90 percent retention rate nationally. The Project SEARCH program began in 1996 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and was developed to meet entry-level employment needs at CCHMC, support their diversity initiative and partner with schools and community services agencies. Project SEARCH is now an international program with over 716 program sites in 48 states and 11 countries.