SPARTAN Project SEARCH Marisa Fisher & Connie Sung

RAIND Meeting 2/12/16"

1

A partnership with MRS, CMH, & !

Spartan Project SEARCH"High school students with intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities in Ingham County will participate at Michigan State

University in a one-year business-led school to work program, Project SEARCH, preparing

them through intense and purposeful education and training internships to be competitively

employed in an integrated setting. !

2

Program Description"!   One year program !!   10 students with a variety of intellectual or neurodevelopmental

disabilities in their last year of high school (ages 18-26)!!   Rotation through 3 unpaid internships with continual feedback to

gain/increase job skills !!   Consistent on-site staff provided by service agencies!

!   1 transition teacher from Ingham ISD!!   1-2 job coaches!

!   Outcome of employment!

3

Program Outcome Goals"!  Employment for each Project SEARCH intern!

!   16 hours a week or more!

!   Minimum wage or better !

!   Integrated Setting!

!   Non-Seasonal!

!   Within 1 year of completion!

!  Bonus Activities Achieved!!   Culture change at the host business as the work skills of young adults

with disabilities are recognized !

!   Publicly funded systems working together!

4

Typical Annual Schedule"

5

AUG JUNE

1st Internship Graduate &

Begin Work at Host Site

or in Community

2nd Internship 3rd Internship

2 – 3 week Orientation

Workshop Week

Workshop Week

Begin

Regular Employment Planning Meetings

Job Search intensifies during 2nd Internship

Business Advisory Groups and Family Involvement Curriculum

Typical Day Schedule"!   8:00 Staff Meeting:

Employability Skills !!   9:00 Worksites!!   11:30 Lunch !!   12:00 Worksites!!   2:30 Review, reflect,

plan!!   3:00 Depart!

6

Internships !!  Cornerstone of the program !

!  Build competitive, !

marketable, transferable skills!

!  4 – 5 hours of day !

!  Work and social skills!

!  10-12 weeks/flexible!

!  Multi-faceted evaluation!

7

University Internship Examples"!  Mail room sorter!!  Book Store stocking!!  Grounds keeping!!  Building Maintenance!!  Clerical – Offices!!  Admissions Offices – Customer Service!!  Security!!  Food Service areas!!  Environmental Services!!  Health Services – Clinic!!

8

Project SEARCH Success Nationally"

! Overall employment % for 2013-2014= 73%!!   33% of graduates were employed by the host site,

67% were employed outside of the host site.!!   Average hourly wage was $9.31!!   Average hours worked were 25.39 per week!!   Numerous local national awards and recognition!

9

Potential Research"

10

Potential Research Project – National Level!

!  Objective: !!  To examine the effectiveness of Project

SEARCH on outcomes of people with developmental disabilities, such as employment outcomes (employment rates, wages, work hours).!

!  Use of Project SEARCH national dataset!

11

Potential Research Project – State Level!

!  Objectives:!!  To compare the differences in outcomes

among various Project SEARCH sites within the state of Michigan.!

!  To examine the impact of Project SEARCH on attitude changes in employers/staff and students towards disabilities.!

12

Potential Research Project – State Level!

!  Objectives:!!  To examine the effectiveness of Project

SEARCH on:!!   social, adaptive and executive functioning!!   mental health aspects!!   quality of life!!   self-advocacy skills!

13

Next Steps!!  Trip to Cincinnati, OH on 2/25-2/26 !

!  Discussing research collaboration opportunities!

!  Visiting other Project SEARCH sites!

14