Roanoke Valley
Project SEARCH
Mr. Gary Gibson, LPC, NCC,
Counselor, Commonwealth of
Virginia Department of
Rehabilitative Services
Ms. Pat Macdonald, Salem
Schools Parent Resource Center
Coordinator
A collaboration creating innovative solutions for
workforce and career development
Roanoke Valley Project SEARCH
Botetourt County Public Schools
Roanoke City Public Schools
Roanoke County Public Schools
Salem City Public Schools
Department of Rehabilitative Services
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare
Blue Ridge Independent Living Center
Carilion Clinic
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute
Virginia ACCSES
Roanoke Valley
Brief History of Project SEARCH
•Erin
Riehle, RN, MSN, Director of Cincinnati Children’s
Emergency Department, 1996
•Looking for ways to fill high-turnover, entry level jobs
•Individuals with disabilities made up a large percentage of
their patients, yet they did not have anyone with a
disability employed by the hospital
•Designed a business model for hiring people with
developmental and other significant disabilities with local
educational, vocational, and disability groups
•Today is replicated in over 200 sites across the US and
Canada, England, Scotland, and Australia
•Primary objective is to secure employment for people with
disabilities
Roanoke Valley
Project SEARCH Today*
Roanoke Valley
*States with sites shaded yellow
(www.projectsearch.us)
Brief History of
Roanoke Valley Project SEARCH
•
March 2008 - Erin Riehle, RN, BSN, presents at Down Syndrome
Association of Roanoke (DSAR) Keys to the Future Conference
•
February 2009 - DSAR initiates collaboration between Project
SEARCH partners, and provides funding for Ms. Riehle to come
to Roanoke three times to assist with collaboration and provide
training.
•
August 2010 - Inaugural program begins using braided funding.
Staff are hired and students commence internships.
•
February 2012 – Program is in second year with 7 interns from 4
school systems
Key Concepts
•Collaboration with Carilion Clinic, Roanoke Valley school
systems, Department of Rehabilitative Services, Goodwill
Industries of the Valleys and other community providers.
• Braided funding
• Immersion and impact
• Training in real work settings
• Low risk, low cost for business
• Hiring students who are “good fit”
**This is a highly competitive program with a goal of
employment**
Roanoke Valley
Project SEARCH is
doing more than
providing valuable
work experiences for
students. It is
massaging and
changing corporate
culture and the
receptivity of
workplaces to employ
people with
disabilities.
Diversity World Magazine,
November 2006
Roanoke Valley
**UPDATE**
PICTURE
What is a Successful Outcome?
(defined by national office based at Cincinnati Children’s
Project SEARCH, www.projectsearch.us)
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Works minimum of 20 hours per week
Earns minimum wage or higher
Employment in an integrated setting
Wages are paid by employer
Employment is not seasonal
Roanoke Valley
How did the inaugural class do?

To date, 8 of the 11 interns from the class of 2011 have
been hired (73%)

Where are they working?
Roanoke Valley
Outcome to date for Class of 2011
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VTC School of Medicine as a Library Aide
Roanoke College dining services
Veterans Hospital as a Laundry Aide
Kroger as a Dairy Associate
Botetourt Athletic Center in housekeeping
West Salem Goodwill Store as a Processor (clothing)
Marshalls as a Processor (clothing)
YMCA as an Assistant Group Leader
UPDATE Class 2012 50% 3 Out of 6 Hired by Host Site
Roanoke Valley
Project SEARCH Work Day
•
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8:00 Employability Skills (classroom)
10:00 Worksites
11:30 Lunch
12:15 Worksites
2:00 Review, Plan,
Journaling (classroom)
• 3:30 Depart
Roanoke Valley
Classroom: 4 Goals
Employment and Job Skills
 Self-Advocacy Skills and using them
 Independent Living Skills
 Understanding and Use of Public
Transportation

Roanoke Valley
Examples of Topics Covered in Classroom
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Workplace manners
Work bullies- how to identify and deal with them
How sleep impacts work
Managing anger
Problem-solving when there is a conflict at work
How your personality impacts your job
(introvert/extrovert)
(Good and Bad) Things that catch the attention of
supervisors
Basic reading, writing, math, health, history, social
skills
Roanoke Valley
Carilion Print Shop
Roanoke Valley
Carilion Materials
Management Facility
Roanoke Valley
Carilion Laundry
Roanoke Valley
Carilion
Rehabilitation
Roanoke Valley
Carilion
Food
Service
Roanoke Valley
Carilion
Food
Service
Roanoke Valley
For more information please contact…
Mr. Chris Jones
Botetourt County Public School
(540) 473-8263
cjones@bcps.k12.va.us
Ms. Melissa Lang
Roanoke City Public Schools
(540) 853-2647
mlang@rcps.info
Ms. Cindy Goldstein
Roanoke City Public Schools
(540) 400-3169
cgoldstein@rcps.info
Ms. Barbara Shutt
Roanoke County Public Schools
(540) 562-3900 ext 29037
bshutt@rcs.k12.va.us
Ms. Maxine Casey
Salem City Public Schools
(540) 387-2437
mcasey@salem.k12.va.us
Roanoke Valley
Roanoke Valley
Project SEARCH
A collaboration creating innovative solutions for
workforce and career development