Project SEARCH at Northwestern Medicine

Project SEARCH at Northwestern Medicine

Project SEARCH at Northwestern Medicine

Preparing young people with significant disabilities for success in competitive integrated employment.

Transition-to-Work Program

At Project SEARCH the goal for each program participant (intern) is competitive employment. To reach that goal, the program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent-living skills to help young people with significant disabilities make successful transitions to productive adult life. The Project SEARCH model involves an extensive period of skills training and career exploration, innovative adaptations, long-term job coaching, and continuous feedback from instructors, skills trainers, and NM mentors. As a result, at the completion of the nine-month training program, interns with intellectual disabilities are employed within the community in nontraditional, complex and rewarding jobs.

As a Project SEARCH host business, the presence of our Project SEARCH programs is making an impact on long-term changes in our business culture that have far-reaching positive effects on enhancing employment pathways for people with disabilities in a range of jobs in which they can be successful.

Eligibility

Project SEARCH serves 10–12 young people with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities who participate in three, 10-week internships where the intern is immersed within a designated internship department. Interns learn complex systematic tasks that directly result into transferrable employability skills. Applications become available around the beginning of the year for new programs that begin in the fall of that same year.

Northwestern Medicine participates in both Project SEARCH program models:

  • In-School Youth: High school transition students who have an Individual Education Program (IEP). Project SEARCH is an opt-in program. Selected student interns agree that this will be the last year of high school transition services and student interns will accept their diploma at the end of the Project SEARCH program.
    • Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
    • Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital
  • Out-Of-School Youth: Young adults who are 18–24 years of age who have had an Individual Education Program (IEP) or equivalent and have previously accepted their diploma or equivalent.
    • Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital
    • Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital

The most important criterion for acceptance for both program models into Project SEARCH is a desire to achieve competitive employment.

To access additional information and to learn more about applying to one of our Project SEARCH programs:

Click here for an overview of the programs (and our collaborating partners) including information sessions and application dates for the following locations:

  • Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
  • Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital
  • Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital

Click here for an overview of the programs (and our collaborating partners) including information sessions and application dates for the following locations:

  • Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital

Other Project SEARCH Resources: