Health First’s Project SEARCH, a Vocational Training Program for High School Seniors, Turns 15

aim of Project SEARCH is gainful employment that leads to independence in life

For students with diagnosed disabilities, this internship program is a proving grounds. More than 1 in 3 graduates get hired by Health First – but more get jobs elsewhere in the community.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – In scrubs and slinging badges, a class of Project SEARCH interns sit around a 3A conference table at Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center and consider the merits of their jobs relative to the classroom.

“At least when we go home we don’t have homework. And no big exams,” says Michelle Servedio.

Project SEARCH is a vocational training program that matches Brevard Public School seniors (or recent grads) with IEPs (individualized educational plans) to jobs at Holmes Regional or Cape Canaveral Hospital.

“What have we said? You might not get exams but you have performance reviews after 90 days,” counters Lynda Schuchert, a SEARCH Instructor.

“They talk to you, talk to your boss about how well you’re doing. If you’re doing well, you might get a raise.”

Each class experiences a rotation of three to four roles selected to match skills and interests to jobs. They also get job coaches who shepherd them through, not just to completion, but full employment – at Health First, or a restaurant, store or elsewhere in the area.

“Are we stricter on attendance than high school?” asks Mitchell Brown, Job Placement Supervisor.

For sure, the group agrees. “Be on time,” says one says. “So you can get paid,” says another. “No, so you don’t get fired,” says a third.

“When I was a nurse runner, I got compliments from the nurses and patients,” says Victoria Bolanos – a big difference between the hospital and the classroom.

“It’s customer service first at Health First,” Schuchert says – and that’s not easily simulated in school.

‘Ready to Work’

The aim of Project SEARCH is gainful employment that leads to independence in life.

“It’s so interesting seeing the growth,” says Terry Matson, a Resource Teacher for Transition Services with Brevard Public Schools.

“It’s almost like, until they’re given this experience, you can’t see their full potential. In school, it’s all academics, curriculum – for many of them, that’s their weakest area. But given the opportunity like they are receiving here, they will rise to the occasion.”

The school system makes other Career Technical Education opportunities available to its students, including those with diagnosed disabilities. But Matson says the goal then is exposure – “employment is not the outcome there.”

“For some businesses, as soon as you say we want to bring in … students with disabilities, as soon as you say ‘disabilities,’ a picture of what that is appears,” Matson says.

“These Project SEARCH students are walking out with their ID badges, their scrubs on –.”

“They’re integrated,” says Tara Shea, one of the job coaches.

“I was so ready to work,” says Antwan Dobbs, a graduate of Palm Bay High School and Project SEARCH who now is a housekeeper at Holmes Regional – one who nurse managers on several floors know by name.

“The people love me here, and I love what I do. I like to clean – Project SEARCH got me this job.”

A Track Record of Success

“How many take the bus to get here?” Matson asks the class.

Victoria explains that, while her mom drops her off at work, she takes three different buses to get home – “three-and-a-half hours, and a nine-minute walk.”

“I’ve only tried riding the bus once, and I wasn’t very successful,” Matson says.
Project SEARCH may be a valuable internship to the students, but to demonstrate value long-term, each class must be reliable and capable – and a credit to the one that follows.

“It’s a really good program to help you get ready for a job in the future,” says Michelle, a nurse runner on 6A. “The job coaches are very nice and happy to teach you everything they know about how to get ready for a job. Like, the first time I came here, I was kind of lazy. But now, I do like keeping a tight schedule.”

As of February, 2022:

■ 224 students have successfully completed Project SEARCH internships at Health First’s two participating hospitals since 2007.
■ 87 of those interns have gone on to full- or part-time employment at Health First.
■ 91 interns have been hired elsewhere in the community.

To apply, or for more information about Project SEARCH, visit HF.org/ProjectSEARCH.

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