Last week at Coffee High School, four Coffee High School students signed with the Project SEARCH program at a ceremony in the Performing Arts Center. The signees were Brandon Smith, Zachary Justiss, Montgomery Preston, and Jacqueline Benitez.
The Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work Program is a unique, business-led, one-year employment preparation program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations. The program culminates in individualized job development.
Project SEARCH serves students with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities with the goal of each participant gaining competitive employment, which is defined as working in an integrated setting involving year ‘round work that is not seasonal, at least 16 hours per week or more at minimum wage or higher.
Locally, Project SEARCH takes place at Coffee Regional Medical Center. “They are such a blessing when you walk down the hallways and see their smiling faces each and every day. I think sometimes working in healthcare we tend to get into the day to day routine and we forget the impact that we make in the lives of people each and every day. In healthcare, I believe we have a special calling. To be able have these students there to help us with that is a constant reminder of that higher calling. We are excited to have them on board. They are a light in the hallways, our lobby, to our patients, and our caregivers each and every single day. On behalf of Coffee Regional Medical Center, we are honored that you guys allow us to have these students and we appreciate the impact they make on our caregivers and our patients,” said Ben Floyd, Vice President of Operations at Coffee Regional Medical Center.
“It’s eye opening seeing the difference in the students when they transition from the high school and they’re in a different environment and they’re treated like adults and everybody else. They seem to fit right in right off the bat. Thank you so much,” said Shanna Overstreet, Project SEARCH Instructor.
The graduates signed letters stating their intent to attend Project SEARCH and received cords to wear at graduation.