Fri, Aug 2, 2019 at 05:30 PM

Project SEARCH going strong at Marshall Medical with 10 new interns

2019-2020 session gets underway to start fifth year for Marshall Medical's participation in career program.

Ten new students are starting Project SEARCH internships with Marshall Medical, continuing what has become a successful and rewarding tradition for the hospitals.

These young adults recently completed a two-day orientation at Marshall North to prepare for the 2019-2020 session of the career and life skills program. 

This will be the fifth year Marshall Medical has participated in Project SEARCH. It's an international program that targets students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a goal of helping them become employable. 
 
During orientation, the new interns participated in team-building activities and informational sessions about Marshall Medical.
 
Greg French, director of environmental services at Marshall North, spoke to the new interns about the duties of environmental service employees. He addressed the importance of hygiene, communication and being responsible in the workplace. He also demonstrated cleaning practices used in environmental services.
 
As part of the post-secondary program, the interns will complete rotations at various worksites across Marshall Medical facilities. They work 10-week rotations during the school year, working in housekeeping, cafeterias, day surgery, wellness centers and maintenance, and they also serve personal care assistants (PCA). 

The Project SEARCH program runs from August 7 until May. Interns are often hired by participating employers near the conclusion of each program session. The rate of employment for the Marshall County Project SEARCH Class of 2019 was 100%, and one of the interns was hired at Marshall Medical.
 
To facilitate Project SEARCH in Marshall County, Marshall Medical partners with the state and county boards of education, Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Alabama Council of Developmental Disabilities, ARC of Jackson County, and Alabama Department of Mental Health.