August 11, 2016
A new group of students from area high schools got started this week as Project SEARCH interns working in Marshall Medical Centers.
Their first day of training class involved learning proper handwashing, establishing an email address and getting their official Marshall Medical badges.
“They were very excited to get their badges,” says Instructor Beth Hanner.
Project SEARCH is an international program that targets students with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a goal of helping them become employable. Last year was the first time Marshall Medical participated in the program. Those students worked for 10 months rotating between departments in Marshall North and South and TherapyPlus locations. Two students were hired to work permanently at each hospital, and five students landed jobs elsewhere.
The second day of class had students practicing an ‘elevator speech’ so they know what to say when asked a question, such as where to find a doctor’s office. They prepared to explain to anyone who asks that Project SEARCH is a program that assists young people in acquiring job skills.
Another exercise students did was to review emergency codes that could be announced in the hospitals. To help them remember, one student drew flames to represent Code Red.
After completing training classes and an orientation session, students will begin working Aug. 22. They can be recognized in their brown scrubs monogrammed with ‘Project SEARCH.’
In Marshall County the program is a partnership between the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Marshall Medical Centers, Alabama Department of Mental Health, Alabama Council of Developmental Disabilities, the state and county boards of education and ARC of Jackson County. The Marshall County school system provides a teacher and Arc provide job coaches. Job coaches stay with students until they become skilled enough to work independently. Students were selected from DAR, Albertville, Brindlee Mountain, Asbury and Douglas high schools.