Technical Assistance & Training for Maryland Project SEARCH Sites

Technical Assistance & Training for Maryland Project SEARCH Sites

Technical Assistance & Training for Maryland Project SEARCH Sites

Proposal Summary- Year 1

Organization: Project SEARCH

Grant Period:1 year

Funds Requested:$ 14,904Match: $ 4,278

Location: Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery, & Howard Counties

Council Committee:Adult Issues Committee

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Council Goal 2: Increase the ability of the community to maximize the inclusion, self-determination, employability, productivity, and independence of people with developmental disabilities throughout their lives

Objective 2.5: Provide service providers with training, technical assistance, and support to implement sustainable organizational change in order to offer customized employment services and supports for at least 50 people with developmental disabilities

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Purpose & Overview

The purpose of the project is to support Project SEARCH sites in Maryland through training, technical assistance, and creation of a learning community. The Cincinnati-based Project SEARCH Administrative team will provide the support.

Project SEARCH is a unique, business led, one year school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Students attend the program for a full school year in a host business/hospital and receive a combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations. The program is collaboration between a school system, business, vocational rehabilitation, providers and families.

Project SEARCH has over 200 national and international sites including 8 in Maryland. The 8 Maryland sites include: Arc Baltimore (3), SEEC (3), and Arc/Central Maryland (2). The Arc Howard County is starting a site in 2014.

Goal of this Initiative

To improve employment outcomes for youth with developmental disabilities in Maryland by enhancing the preparedness of the special education teachers, job coaches, and job developers who work at Project SEARCH program sites.

Year 1 Proposed Strategies & Major Activities

  1. Facilitate two statewide meetings with the goal of increasing communication between Project SEARCH sites, sharing experiences, and learning best practices
  2. Provide a two-day training for personnel
  3. Host one hour long conference calls in months where there are no face-to-face meetings scheduled to discuss current issues that are affecting the program sites

Year 1 Proposed Outcomes

  • Increase in knowledge in the implementation of the Project SEARCH model
  • Create a network of Project SEARCH sites to problem solve and share best practices, tools, and strategies
  • Implement a data base to measure employment outcomes

Long Term Goals of this Initiative

  1. Project SEARCH staff in Maryland will use the knowledge gained to improve the employment outcomes of people with developmental disabilities.
  2. People will have employment supports they need and want.
  3. Participating providers will have the experience and expertise to assist other providers that want to establish a Project SEARCH site.

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