SAH to host new transition-to-work program for young people with disabilities

The Algoma District School Board, Sault Area Hospital, Community Living Algoma and the YMCA Sault Ste. Marie have partnered for a new program aimed at helping young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Project Search is a transition-to-work program that will help students get ready for the working world by gaining job skills through classroom work and hand-on training.

Following is a full release from the Algoma District School Board with additional details on the project:

The Algoma District School Board (ADSB) is pleased to announce the introduction of Project Search Algoma, in partnership with Sault Area Hospital (SAH), Community Living Algoma (CLA) and the YMCA Sault Ste Marie. Together, these four community partners are introducing Project Search to the community of Sault Ste Marie for the 2023-24 school year.

Project Search is a transition-to-work program for young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Launched in 1996 at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Project Search is a program whose main objective is to prepare students for employment with job skills training through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on career training.

The program (which has expanded to an international network of sites over the years) takes place at a host workplace and the Sault Area Hospital has committed to being the Project Search Algoma’s host site. SAH is generously providing space, time and resources for our students including an on-site training room. The program will be staffed by an ADSB teacher and a skills trainer from Community Living Algoma, another important community partner, who will provide daily instruction and support for student interns in their day-to-day training on-site. During the upcoming school year, YMCA SSM has also agreed to help establish a pre-readiness site and will host a classroom for students at the YMCA, to help support students who require a bit of additional skill development to become future Project Search interns.

The Project Search Algoma program will provide skills training to student interns through placements in different departments within SAH. Each participant will have several internship opportunities. The first few weeks will focus on orientation, hands-on skill assessment, and becoming familiar and comfortable with the SAH environment. Working with ADSB and CLA staff, and in conjunction with SAH personnel, interns participate in job development planning meetings to help support the goal of obtaining employment upon completion of the program.

The targeted internships allow the students to acquire transferable skills. Working from a task list, they acquire core skills necessary to secure employment in the community following the program. Once core skills have been mastered, additional skills are layered on to improve the student intern’s marketability.

ADSB Superintendent of Education Brent Vallee shared: “ADSB prides itself on having a pathway for all students. Project Search Algoma allows us to provide a pathway for some of our students who may have been challenged to find meaningful work following high school. We are very thankful to the Sault Area Hospital, Community Living Algoma and YMCA of Sault Ste Marie who have all made significant commitments to our students. We look forward to seeing where these students will be in one year from now, following their completion of the Project Search Algoma program.”

Shauna Hynna, Vice President, Transformation and Partnerships shared her thoughts. “Sault Area Hospital (SAH) is honoured and grateful to be the 15th hospital in Canada to host Project Search. We thank our partners (Algoma District School Board, Community Living Algoma, YMCA, Project Search team) for putting their trust in us and supporting this important work that will have a positive impact for patients, families, staff and our entire community. We are excited to be Algoma’s host site and welcome the students to our organization and team. SAH is committed to a workplace that values diversity, inclusion and respect for all persons and Project Search encourages us to break down stereotypes. We are proud to provide these young people with meaningful work and the opportunity to challenge the status quo as well as provide a great experience for our staff, physicians, and volunteers.”

“Project Search Algoma is an important initiative that will provide hope, optimism and opportunities for youth seeking employment upon the completion of this transition-to-work program. It is a solid example of the innovative partnerships necessary to enhance opportunities for inclusion and citizenship for all members of our community,” says John Policicchio, Executive Director, Community Living Algoma. “Community Living Algoma is proud to be part of a partnership where youth have the opportunity to learn with ADSB; acquire new skills with CLA’s support, and have the opportunity to apply that learning and skill in an employment setting, such as SAH. We can all appreciate the importance and significance of employment in our lives and how it enhances our quality of life and this program will bring those same opportunities to people with disabilities.”

Our first group of student interns committed to participating in the program at a Signing Ceremony held at SAH on June 27. Additional Project Search training will take place over the summer for all partners involved and it is expected that the student interns will begin their 2023/2024 school year, along with their instructor at the Sault Area Hospital in September.