Overlook Medical Center Named Employer of the Year by NJ APSE

SUMMIT, NJ - APRIL 2018 - Atlantic Health System’s Overlook Medical Center received the Employer of the Year Award from the New Jersey chapter of the Association of People Supporting Employment First (NJ APSE) during the Facing the Future 26 Conference on transition and employment, at the Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick, NJ on Friday, March 23.

The Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) is the only national organization with an exclusive focus on integrated employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Overlook was recognized for its role as the employer host of Project SEARCH, a program that helps young adults with disabilities to gain on-the-job experience. Accepting the award for Overlook was MaryPat Sullivan, chief nursing officer for Overlook.

“Atlantic Health System and Overlook Medical Center are so very proud to accept this recognition on behalf of our relationship with Project SEARCH,” Sullivan said.

In its first year, 2016-2017, nine students interned at Overlook, and today, eight of these nine students remain competitively employed, four of whom are employed at Overlook.

“Our first students were not simply interns who worked here - they were quickly embraced by the rest of the Overlook team, who recognized the important skills they could contribute and became part of the Overlook family,” Sullivan said. “We are pleased to now be working with our second cohort of students who are just as quickly becoming part of the Overlook experience.”

"Many large businesses might balk at the idea of committing to house a year-long job skills training for students with significant disabilities inside their corporation,” said Josh Bornstein, Director of Special Projects at Union County Educational Services Commission, the coordinating educational agency for Project SEARCH.

“By agreeing to host the first Project SEARCH program in New Jersey – and following through and hiring several interns from the first cohort - Overlook Medical Center and Atlantic Health System are making the community healthier,” Bornstein continued. “Overlook has set an example for the rest of the business community. They are demonstrating how leadership and innovative support by the private sector can have a significant impact on positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities."

The Project SEARCH program model was developed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996.

Captions:

L-R, MaryPat Sullivan, CNO of Overlook Medical Center, stands with Alberto Ortis, a former Project SEARCH intern who was hired by Overlook’s Patient Transport department, and Jourdan Spencer, program instructor for Project SEARCH.

MaryPat Sullivan, CNO of Overlook Medical Center (L), accepts the award from Margaret Gilbride, a board member of NJ APSE.

Overlook Medical Center is announced as the NJ APSE Employer of the Year on Friday, March 23, 2018

The first class of interns in Project SEARCH graduate at a ceremony at Overlook’s Bouras Auditorium

Eddie Torres, the first PS intern to be hired from the program, at work at Overlook in 2017