During the recent Project SEARCH graduation at the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center, participants proudly shared some of what they learned about themselves during their nine-month internships at ChristianaCare:
“I like working at a fast pace.”
“I learned that I work well with technology.”
“I was efficient, organized and very helpful.”

Their perspectives on work should delight any prospective employer—and that’s the goal. Through Project SEARCH, students ages 18 to 21 with cognitive disabilities learn job skills through classroom training, mentoring and experience in areas including Pharmacy, Family & Community Medicine and the Helen F. Graham Cancer & Research Institute. The program is credited with helping participants transition from school to a productive work life.

At the same time, it helps build ChristianaCare’s talent pipeline. Several past participants in Project SEARCH are still working at ChristianaCare.

Eleven participants graduated from this year’s Project SEARCH class. The program, which launched at ChristianaCare in 2011, is offered in partnership with POW&R (Productive Opportunities for Work & Recreation); CIS (Community Integrated Services); Red Clay Consolidated School District; the Delaware Department of Education; and the Delaware Department of Labor’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.