BAKERSFIELD, CA. — Project SEARCH is a transition-to-work program at Dignity and Memorial Hospitals to help those with developmental disabilities land jobs.
"They do participate in four rotations, which is three months, so they’re not just staying in one department they get the opportunity to work in multiple departments," said Elisa Garcia, Project SEARCH coordinator.
The program currently has a 60% success rate of interns that land full time positions.
“We are trying to educate the community. I think there’s like a stigma, where they think they’re not capable of completing the tasks we can. But sometimes, they don’t want to pursue employment and they go to college because they decide this is not the road they want to take," said Garcia.
The one year program allows them to intern in different departments and find their right fit.
"It’s actually been really fun, lots of nice people here, my department is doing well, its general sterile," said Robert Chesley, Project SEARCH intern.
For more information, visit the Project SEARCH page.
