Project SEARCH Program at Miami Valley Hospital South Receives National Recognition

DAYTON, OH (September 1, 2016) – The 10th annual Project SEARCH conference took place in Orlando, FL August 1-5.  Each summer, members of this international network of practitioners, interns and families, convene for a week of learning and sharing best practices and innovations.  During the conference, the Miami Valley Hospital South (MVHS) Project SEARCH program received the “100% Employment Outcome Award.”

“What we love about Project SEARCH is that it gives all of us at MVHS the opportunity to help break down the barriers and myths about the abilities of people living with disabilities,” says Cristlyn Johnston, Director of Non-Clinical Operations at Miami Valley Hospital South.  “All of our interns have been very capable and hard-working people.  The fact that we were able to place ALL twelve of our interns in positions in the community, makes us very proud.”

In order to receive this award, all interns must be gainfully employed in competitive waged jobs within one year of their graduation; all twelve MVHS interns found employment within three months of graduation.  This is a major accomplishment because MVHS Project SEARCH received this award within the first year of the program. The Project SEARCH program at MVHS is 1 of only 55 sites out of the 400+ worldwide programs to receive this award.  

Project SEARCH is a nine-month internship program where individuals with developmental disabilities are fully immersed in the workforce at MVHS and learn vocational skills. Upon completion of the program, Project SEARCH interns are transitioned into competitive employment opportunities throughout the community. This program is a collaboration between Miami Valley Hospital South, Miami Valley Career Technology Center, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, and the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

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