Project SEARCH Alabama
Montgomery
•Scott Johnson- Job Coach
•Kiwanne Crummey- Job
Coach
•Valerie JohnsonInstructor
Shelby County
•Kim Bryant- Job Coach
•Cindy Vinson- Job Coach
•Lacy Jordan- Instructor
Partners
Project SEARCH Class of 2013
Montgomery
Project SEARCH Class of 2013
Shelby County
Project SEARCH is coming
to my school district,
now what???
Getting Started
 Finding a Host Site/Securing the Site
 Identifying Business Liaison & Points of Contact
 On the ground Staff Members are hired(Instructor &
Job Coaches)
 Identify the Interns (10-12)
 Job Develop based on the need for the Interns
 Place Interns on Rotations: three rotations, up to 10
weeks each with a week of class time in between
Getting the Word Out
 E-Mail all High Schools (Principals, Guidance Counselors,
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SEFs & Special Education Teachers)
SEFs & Special Education Teachers assist Students in
completing Applications with Supporting Documentation
Applications were sent home by Students-followed by a
phone call from Instructor-returned by students
Flyers posted in the Schools (common areas)
Special Education Facilitator’s Meeting
School Board Meeting
Informational Meeting
Open House
Media
Entrance Criteria
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18-21 years of age
Student with a disability
Finished all requirements needed for graduation
12th grader enrolled in School-(Last year of eligibility)
Can follow directions
Motivated to work
Can work Semi –Independent
Good Attendance and No Behavioral Problems
Can obtain Transportation (Transit, carpool, or family)–
Travel Training can be provided
Background Check
Required Vaccines: School & Hospital
Informational Meeting
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Invite 11th and 12th grade students with their Parents,
Principals, Special Education Staff, Counselors, State
Team and other Partners
Give an overview of the program with supporting
documentation
Answer Questions: Selection Process, Transportation,
Lunch,Uniforms,etc
Have applications available for interested
Students/Parents
Application Process
 Interviews: Students & Parents by the Selection
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Committee
Gather/Document data during Interviews (to share
with the Selection Committee)
Upon appointment-Gather data from Schools: Current
IEP, Eligibility Report, Attendance, Grades and etc.
Selection Committee used a Rubric to score the
Students based on data collected
Students were placed on one of three lists: Acceptance,
Rejection, or Waiting List
Application Process for Next Year
 Paper Application
 Teacher Assessment
 Parent Interview
 Student Interview
 Skills or Functional Assessment
Selection Process
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Students are selected based on their Application,
Interview, and Assessments: Teacher, Parent, and
Skills
Meeting with all agencies represented
o School System, Service Provider, Vocational
Rehabilitation, Host Business, Teacher, and Job
Coaches
o Have all Application Materials on hand
Selection Process Continued
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Based on the volume of applicants, you may need to
have more than one selection meeting
Send Acceptance, Rejection and Waiting List Letters
to students
Start preparing
Handbook
st
1
Year
Montgomery
Shelby County
 Template provided by Project
 School Code of Conduct
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SEARCH Consultant
School Code of Conduct
Business Code of Conduct
Classroom Rules
Mission Statements: School &
Hospital
Vision Statements: School &
Hospital
 Business Code of Conduct
 Classroom Rules
Handbook and Policies
 Create a Handbook for Project SEARCH that Parents
and Students can sign and keep
 Incorporate the School System, Business, and Service
Provider’s Codes of Conduct
 Create a Discipline Policy
 School, Business & Service Provider
Challenges in year one
Montgomery County
Shelby County
 Lunch
 Transportation
 Some Transportation
 Time Management for
 Attendance in Rotation #2
Students
 Appropriate Social
Skills/Work Behaviors
 Time: Reporting back after a
break
IEP Process
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Hold an IEP meeting as soon as you can after
Acceptance/Rejection Letters go out
Invite representatives from the team
o Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Project
SEARCH Instructor, Project SEARCH Job Coaches,
Parents, Students, School Nurse
Parents will have many questions that can be answered
during an IEP meeting
IEP Process
Montgomery
 Acceptance Letter: Parent
& Student Agreement
 Amendment of IEP
 Answer Questions that
Team Members may have
 Duration of IEPS: AugustMay of each year
Shelby County
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Hold IEP meeting
Re-wrote all IEPs for
Project SEARCH
Duration August to May
Give helpful information
to students and parents
Developing Internships
 Present Project SEARCH at Department Meetings
 Meet with staff in potential Internship Sites
 Supervisors and Mentors
 Observe the Internship Site
 Task Analysis
 Accommodations
 Modifications
 After Internships have started, stay visible in the
Internship Sites and Business
Frequent Contact
 Daily debriefing Meetings with Interns
 News Letters/Informational Letters to Parents
 Daily Staff Meetings
 Monthly Partner’s Meeting
 Phone Calls Home
 Bi-Weekly & Monthly Progress Reports
 Meetings with “Team Intern” (Parents, Intern, Job
Coaches, Instructor, Supervisors & Mentors
Impact on Business
 Changes the culture of the Business
 Provide candidates to help lower the number of
positions with high turnover rates
 Reduce stereotypes of individuals with challenges
 Adds positive energy to the Business
Parent Input
Montgomery County
Shelby County
“I feel very strongly about this
program”, says Milia Stevens.
“This Program has given our family
hope”, says Monica Gudino.
“I appreciate the encouragement the
program has given to my child”
says Deloris Dickerson.
“I had a hard time convincing my son
about this program. He did not
want to go, but thank God he is
enjoying it now”, says John Hood.
“Project SEARCH registered my son
to vote and he voted for the first
time”, says Tammy Hall.
 Parent Presentation
Impact on Students
 Interns become more social and independent
 Interns are fully immersed in age appropriated settings
with their peers
 Interns engage appropriately in social situations
 Interns gain confidence in themselves and their
abilities
 Interns learn competitive work skills to gain
meaningful employment
Thank you for coming!
Montgomery
Shelby County
 Baptist Medical Center
 Shelby Baptist Medical Center
South, Morrow Tower, Suite
710 (334) 286-5635
 Business Liaison: Kay Bennett
Human Resource Building
 Business Liaison- Cindy
Nicholson
 kbennett@baptistfirst.org
 Job Coaches
 Kiwanee Crummey & Scott
Watson
 Instructor: Valerie Johnson
 valerie.johnson@mps.k12.al.
us
 Cindy.nicholson@bhsala.com
 Job Coach- Kim Bryant
 205-620-8627
 kbryant@thearcofshelby.org
 Instructor- Lacy Jordan
 205-620-8264
 l2jordan@shelbyed.k12.al.us
Questions and Answers