Project SEARCH Interns Graduate from Jefferson Health – NJ

Thirteen young adults received Project SEARCH graduation certificates at an outdoor ceremony, marking their participation in a longstanding work-transition program at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital and, for the first time, Jefferson Stratford Hospital. These Project SEARCH interns attended classes at both hospitals every day throughout the school year, working and learning alongside Jefferson Health's employees.

Jefferson Health – New Jersey has been involved with Project SEARCH -– an international work-transition program for young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities -- since 2016. Since its launch, 51 students from Cherry Hill’s Y.A.L.E. School have “graduated” from the Project SEARCH program at Jefferson Health – New Jersey hospitals. Nearly a third of the graduates have been employed by Jefferson. Others found employment with various businesses in the community.

Project SEARCH interns at Jefferson work in a variety of departments that teach them job skills, including: Food Service, Patient Accounts, Storeroom, and Environmental Services, among others. The students also receive classroom instruction through the Y.A.L.E. School. This Project SEARCH program is a collaboration among several partners, including Jefferson Health, Y.A.L.E. School, NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities, and Samost Jewish and Family Children’s Service.

Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and has more than 622 host sites worldwide. For more information about Project SEARCH at Jefferson Health, visit www.yaleschoolnj.com/about/project-search.

About Jefferson Health: Jefferson Health, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, is reimagining health care in the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson’s dedicated team of doctors, nurses, health professionals and staff provides a range of primary to highly specialized care through 18 hospitals (10 are Magnet®-designated by the ANCC for nursing excellence), more than 50 outpatient and urgent care locations, the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Moss Rehabilitation Hospitals and Magee Rehabilitation and the JeffConnect® telemedicine program. For 2021-2022, Jefferson is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals in seven specialities by U.S. News & World Report. Jefferson Health’s mission is to improve the lives of patients in the communities it is privileged to serve through safe, effective, equitable, compassionate care.

About Project SEARCH: Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, which is still the administrative headquarters for the organization. Project SEARCH is a business-led, one-year work-preparation program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most participants are enrolled while transitioning from high school to work. The hallmark of Project SEARCH is total workplace immersion, which facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training. Project SEARCH's primary objective is to secure competitive employment for every program participant.

About Y.A.L.E. School: Y.A.L.E. School (Young Adolescents Learning Experience) is an NJ state-approved private special education school with nine campus locations throughout southern NJ and the greater Philadelphia region serving students with disabilities ages 3 through 21. Across four of those campus locations, Y.A.L.E. School offers a highly specialized program for students with autism that provides low student-to-staff ratios, supervision by highly-trained and certified behavior specialist, a comprehensive curriculum, intensive transition support, integrated and consultative speech services, support for families and an extended school year program in the summer. Since 1976, students with disabilities have been placed at Y.A.L.E. School locations by their local school district and attend at no cost to parents.