Seven Jefferson Health New Jersey Interns Graduate from Project SEARCH Work-Transition Program
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
The third class of talented Y.A.L.E. School interns recently graduated from Jefferson Health’s Project SEARCH program at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital. Launched in Cincinnati in 1996, Project SEARCH is a work-transition program for young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities; it has grown to more than 400 host employer sites worldwide, including Jefferson — which in 2017 began the first such program in South Jersey.
This year’s class featured seven interns who worked in various departments throughout Jefferson (NJ), including: Health Information Management, Patient Accounts, Storeroom, Food Service, Environmental Services, and more.
“We are very attached to this program and are honored to work with the Y.A.L.E. School,” said Jill Ostrem, Jefferson NJ Senior VP of Operations. “Each class of interns is special to us and become part of our Jefferson family. They make a difference in the lives of our patients.”
Combined with classroom instruction — so students can secure hands-on training through worksite rotations — Project SEARCH leads interns to meaningful employment by teaching job skills over the course of a school year. Interns receive on-site instruction from a certified teacher and skills trainer on everything from team workplace safety to self-advocacy. The skills they learn help them find related positions that match their talents and interests.
Jefferson has hired several Project SEARCH interns upon completion of the program, including 2019 program graduate William Zieger (Patient Transport).
Top row, from left: graduates Kyle Marquis & Steven Walker; middle row, from left: Jill Ostrem, graduates Tyler Burns, Melissa McGeehan & Nicholas Cialini, and Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Dutterer; and bottom row, from left: graduates William Zieger & Catherine Tetreault.