Holy Name Press Releases

Project SEARCH Internship Program for High School Students with Disabilities Presented at Holy Name Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center

Project SEARCH is one of the Largest Jobs Training Programs In the Nation for Students with Disabilities

October 18, 2016

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco and Freeholder Vice Chair Tracy Zur today joined with hospital executives and representatives from Holy Name Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center, the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the Bergen County Workforce Development Board, The Arc of Bergen & Passaic, North Jersey Friendship House, and the Bergen County Special Services School District to highlight Project SEARCH – a one–year, business–led internship program for students with disabilities in their last year of high school that teaches students portable job skills that can be used in any number of careers. Participants in the program – which takes place entirely at Holy Name Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center – are nationally employed at nearly double New Jersey’s 37 percent employment rate for people with disabilities.

"Holy Name is proud to partner with Bergen County on this first–of–its–kind project in New Jersey," said Michael Maron, President and CEO, Holy Name Medical Center. "County Executive Tedesco, Freeholder Zur and the entire Project Search team have done an excellent job with this program in providing meaningful training to ensure better lives. As we continuously seek to offer resources to the underserved members of our community, we are proud to participate in this important initiative."

"Every student deserves the chance to reach for their highest hopes and fulfill their greatest potential," said Bergen County Executive Tedesco. "Bergen County is proud to be a part of Project SEARCH. Giving children with disabilities the opportunity to gain real–world work experience that will lead to employment after graduation will help them maintain a life full of opportunity and job security. All of our children are born with unique talents that can help them succeed, and Project SEARCH helps enable our kids to recognize and utilize those skills."

"The Freeholders and the County Executive are proud to bring Project SEARCH to Bergen County because it provides an innovative opportunity to find meaningful employment and provide better outcomes for our students with disabilities," said Freeholder Vice–Chairwoman Zur, who spearheaded this project in Bergen County. "Programs like this change the dialogue and focus on the abilities of these young people—that hiring people with differing abilities is good business sense. We are fortunate to have fantastic partners that share our vision and have come to the table, as this braided funding keeps costs down for everyone and ensures that this program is not only sustainable, but something that can be expanded across the county."

Project SEARCH is a collaborative partnership between business, education, workforce and government agencies, vocational rehabilitation, community rehabilitation providers, long–term support agencies, and families that provides students who want to work a chance to explore careers and develop transferable job skills. The combination of instruction and immersion in the workplace prepares young adults with disabilities to make successful transitions from school to productive adult life. In Bergen County, Project SEARCH is coordinated by the Bergen County Workforce Development Board.


Alice Hunnicutt, Director, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services; Dr. Howard Lerner, Superintendent, Bergen County Special Services; Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III; Tracy S. Zur, Vice Chairwoman, Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders; Michael Maron, Presidentand CEO, Holy Name Medical Center; Acting Labor Commissioner Aaron R. Fichtner, Ph.D.; and Tammy Molinelli, Director, Bergen County Workforce Development Board.

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWYniPg6Dnk