As students returned to school this fall, a school-to-work program for high school students with disabilities began at Baylor Medical Center at Garland. Project SEARCH is a cooperative effort between Baylor Garland, the Garland Independent School District, Texas Department of Adult Rehabilitation Services, and Quest, an agency that provides job coaches and post-graduate job placement.
Project SEARCH places students in internships at local businesses where a total immersion in the workplace prepares students with significant disabilities for competitive employment by providing educational experiences in a real-life work environment as they transition from school to adulthood.
"Providing training and services that will help students with disabilities make a successful transition from high school to post-school activities is extremely important," said Nidia Parra, GISD's director of Special Education. "Finding the right job is not easy for any individual. It is especially difficult for individuals who face special challenges, such as a disability. My hope is that our students will gain essential job skills that will result in a sense of accomplishment and pride."
Project SEARCH gives students opportunities to learn about and explore jobs in several support areas at Baylor Garland. Students spend 10 weeks in hospital departments such as radiology, environmental services, access services, or supply chain management, and then rotate for another 10 weeks in a different area. In total, students will spend 30 weeks at Baylor Garland in three separate support departments.
"I believe that, through their experience at Baylor Garland, we have an opportunity to make a real difference in the futures of these young people," said Tom Trenary, president, Baylor Medical Center at Garland. "This cooperative effort with Project SEARCH will have a positive influence on our staff and the overall culture of our hospital."
Project SEARCH began in 1996 at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and has become an international program.
Baylor Garland joins 16 other Texas organizations in hosting a Project SEARCH program. It is the first Baylor Scott & White Health – North Texas facility to participate in the program.
"We are honored to have been selected as a Project SEARCH site since this model has proven highly effective in preparing students with significant disabilities for gainful employment," said Daniel Alemayehu, director of hospital operations, Baylor Garland, and the hospital's Project SEARCH coordinator.
About Baylor Medical Center at Garland
Baylor Medical Center at Garland is a community hospital located in the heart of Garland, offering acute care and emergency care services. The 113-bed facility has more than 500 physicians on its medical staff. Hospital services include 24-hour emergency department, breast center, cancer care, comprehensive wound center, digestive, gynecology, heart and vascular, orthopedics, pain management, physical rehabilitation, radiology, and sleep medicine services.
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About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com