Project SEARCH
An innovative program from LARC.
Project SEARCH - in partnership with Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
Ellen Kirsch Project SEARCH Manager
Email:ekirsch@litchfieldarc.org
Phone: 860-496-0063 ext. 312
Fall 2024
LARC’s Project SEARCH interns recently completed their first rotation at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. Bobby and Marissa strengthened their employability skills and made valuable contributions to their departments.
Marissa supported Cardiology and Cardiac Rehab. She learned sanitation skills to “turn over” patient rooms and clean high-touch surfaces. She also learned office skills such as filing and collating in Cardiac Rehab, and she especially enjoyed taking care of organizing discharge binders and preparing them for scanning.
Bobby supported Nutritional Services as well as Human Resources. He learned office skills such as collating and filing and made reminder phone calls to volunteers as the due date for mandated flu shots neared. In Nutritional Services, Bobby worked on many tasks and supported prep work for Meals on Wheels. Bobby was also our program’s first intern to assemble the salad bar each day for lunch service.
The interns also had a visit from LARC’s Steering Committee, enjoying a pizza lunch. Bobby and Marissa have just started their second rotations, and are looking forward to learning new skills in the Storeroom, Gift Shop, Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Human Resources, and Cardiology.
Project SEARCH Graduation, June 4, 2024
Project SEARCH had a memorable graduation celebration for Brian at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital with nearly 40 guests in attendance. Brian worked hard these past 9 months and accessed all the program had to offer. He grew in skills, and independence and is on his way towards competitive employment. Deb Aleksinas, LARC Job Developer, is working with Brian to pursue a job opportunity in our community. Brian has put in over 460 hours of service during his unpaid internship. He worked on skills such as sanitizing, filing, copying, stocking, food preparation, sweeping, cash register skills and made patient appointment reminder phone calls. Project SEARCH Coordinator, Kathy Riberdy, and Skills Trainer, Ellen Kirsch, are grateful for this partnership and appreciate all the hospital staff who have supported the program and volunteered their time to mentor interns. Thank you, CHH: John Capobianco, Brian Mattiello, Shelli Rhoads, Pam Tino, Nutritional Services, Storeroom, Cardiology, Human Resources, Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Endocrinology, Gift Shop, Food4Health, Environmental Services and the Security team. The team appreciated the guidance from Marianne Sedgwick, LARC Vocational Coordinator. These past 5 years, LARC’s Project SEARCH at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital has graduated 10 successful interns who all gained independence, skills and secured competitive employment. We are appreciative of all who supported this impactful program and are looking forward to continuing the mission in the fall with four new interns. Best of luck, Brian!
Project SEARCH - January 2024
Project SEARCH interns came back from holiday break rested and ready to learn new skills. During this week of our 2nd Orientation, Emma and Brian are learning “Health Matters”, covering sexual harassment, and created Vision Boards with goals for 2024. Interns are also practicing skills to start in new departments next week. The team enjoyed a visit from LARC’s Project SEARCH Steering Committee where we shared pizza, Vision Boards and good conversation.
Project SEARCH - December 2023
Project SEARCH interns have successfully completed their first internship at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. Brian supported the cafeteria and Meal on Wheels. He grew in his employment skills, independence and confidence. Emma strengthened retail skills in the Gift Shop and grew in her independence while supporting the Storeroom. She also built upon office skills while interning in Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
November 2023
Thank you, Project SEARCH interns, for helping with the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Food Drive and filling two car loads full of food for local food banks. Brian & Emma have been working hard and learning employment skills in their first internship throughout various departments. Brian is supporting Nutritional Services/Cafeteria and working on food preparation for Meals on Wheels. Emma is the first intern to be hosted by the Gift Shop and is learning valuable retail skills. Emma also supports the Storeroom by recycling boxes, stocking shelves and sweeping. Special Educator, Kathy Riberdy, and Skills Trainer, Ellen Kirsch, are grateful for the continued support of mentors and CHH liaisons, Brian Mattiello, Shelli Rhoads and Pam Tino, who give their time and expertise to this impactful program.
October 2023
Project SEARCH interns have had a busy September Orientation learning employability skills & prepping to start in departments in October. We’ve enjoyed guests visiting from CHH & LARC to cover CPR Basics, HR Tips and practice interview skills. Brian is excited to intern in the Cafeteria and Emma is ready to learn skills in the Gift Shop and Storeroom.
Welcome to our 2023-2024 Interns
Project SEARCH interns have had a busy September Orientation learning employability skills & prepping to start in departments in October. We’ve enjoyed guests visiting from CHH & LARC to cover CPR Basics, HR Tips and practice interview skills. Brian is excited to intern in the Cafeteria and Emma is ready to learn skills in the Gift Shop and Storeroom.
Graduation - June 1,2023
2023-2023 program year
Project SEARCH is preparing for its fourth year. There is still time to register for the 2023-2023 program year. To learn more about this innovative and impactful program, click the link below.
Intern PowerPoint Presentations
A New Year for Project SEARCH
LARC’s Project SEARCH is back at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (CHH) for a third program year with a new group of exceptional young adults.
The Project SEARCH program provides classes in employability skills, independent living skills and internship experience for young adults with disabilities. The goal is to obtain competitive employment upon completion in June. Project SEARCH Coordinator and Special Educator, Kathy Riberdy, and Ellen Kirsch, Skills Trainer, are joined by interns, Kim, Chris, and Reid. Kathy stated, “These new interns are motivated and working hard during their month-long Orientation.” The group is focusing on team building, employability skills, visiting departments and navigating around the hospital.
Interns have worked on skills such as filing alphabetical order, reading expiration dates, re-packaging masks, folding tri-fold brochures, and portioning food. The team appreciates CHH staff volunteering their time to provide expert training in CPR basics, interview skills, healthy food preparation, and building stamina. Project SEARCH is fortunate to work with host liaisons, Shelli Rhoads and Pam Tino, who give their time and support to this meaningful program.
LARC’s Executive Director, Michael Menard, and Marianne Sedgwick, LARC’s Vocational Coordinator, recently visited for lunch to get to know the new interns. The team will be ready to start interning in October in Nutritional Services, Storeroom, Environmental Services, Human Resources, and Cardiac Rehabilitation. Chris stated, “I’m excited to do the Storeroom like finding where everything goes on the shelves. I’m excited to meet new people and new experiences.”
Reid shared, “I’m looking forward to working in the cafeteria.” Kim is “looking forward to working in Cardiac Rehab and Human Resources. I learned CPR basics which was new to me”.
Graduation 2022
Congratulations to LARC’s Project SEARCH graduates, Liam, Joshua, Aaron, and Sierra! Thank you, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, for the partnership and generously providing a memorable send off. These exceptional young adults showed up in September ready to learn, work and access all this program has to offer. Interns grew in skills, confidence, and were all successful. During the ceremony, the team confidently shared, “What Project SEARCH has meant to me.” They felt the love and support of the 60 attendees, which included family, friends, LARC staff, DDS representatives, and CHH staff. Project SEARCH truly appreciated the mentorship and support from the departments that welcomed them into their teams: Nutritional Services, Podiatry, Cardiology, Storeroom, Ear Nose and Throat, Cardiac Rehab, Human Resources and Wheelchair Transport. Sierra will be starting her part-time position as an Office Assistant in Podiatry at the hospital, utilizing her skill of patient appointment reminder phone calls, and learning EPIC. Aaron will be implementing learned skills in his new part-time position at Keystone Place, Torrington, working in the kitchen and housekeeping. We know the future looks bright for these incredible stars!
Project Search Welcomes New Interns
Project SEARCH is happy to be back for our second year at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. LARC’s Project SEARCH program provides classes in employability skills, independent living skills and internship experience for young adults with disabilities. LARC’s partner, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, has welcomed us back and is ready to host interns in various departments including Nutritional Services, Podiatry Department, Environment Services/Housekeeping and the Storeroom.
We have 4 new excited interns for our 2021-2022 program year. Interns Aaron, Josh, Liam and Sierra are joining Special Educator/Coordinator, Kathy Riberdy, and Skills Trainer, Ellen Kirsch. The team is fortunate to be joined by Ellen, who has 19 years of experience at LARC. Ellen shared, “I’m very excited to join the team. I look forward to watching our interns learn and grow”. LARC’s Vocational Coordinator, Marianne Sedgwick, has joined the team as Supervisor and will assist with interns gaining competitive employment upon completion. LARC’s vocational team, along with Deb Aleksinas, successfully placed last year’s interns, Owen and Stephen into employment which utilizes skills learned in the program.
“We have a great group of young adults who are ready to learn, work and be a part of the hospital community. The CHH staff is accommodating and very supportive of our program. We appreciate the dedication of our host liaisons, Shelli Rhoads and Pam Tino. We are looking forward to receiving training from experts in CPR, wheelchair transport and “turning over” rooms” stated Kathy Riberdy.
Interns have had a productive week and shared what they are looking forward to this program year. Josh “It’s going to great to try housekeeping and food prep”. Aaron “It’s going to be great to do Environmental Services, cleaning machines and stocking shelves”. Liam “I am going to do good in the cafeteria. I will learn how to cut vegetables.” Sierra “I am excited to meet new people”.
Graduation Celebration 12-22-2020
November Update
Project SEARCH is back in person! In October, we resumed our program at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. After many months of on-line classroom instruction, interns, Stephen and Owen, are excited to get back to work in person. We are following COVID-19 safety protocol and getting screened daily with temperature checks and answering screening questions.
Stephen is interning in Podiatry and working on sanitizing rooms, escorting patients, providing wheelchair transport and re-stocking supplies. Owen is interning at Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Winsted Health Center. Owen is busy sanitizing exercise equipment, folding towels, organizing supplies and collating papers. Owen is also learning how to use a blood pressure cuff and apply heart rate monitors on patients. Our department mentors and staff at CHH are welcoming and appreciate all of our interns hard work.
LARC Executive Director, Michael Menard, visited for lunch and caught up with the team. Stephen and Owen presented slide shows to demonstrate the tasks they are learning in their new departments. Special Educator and PS Coordinator, Kathy Riberdy, is hoping to add two new interns in November. Best of luck to Project SEARCH!
Family Hearing Day at the Capitol - 2/26/20
LARC’s Project Search Team was at the 7th Annual Arc Connecticut/IDD Caucus Family Hearing Day at the Capitol in Hartford on February 26. Thirty legislators attended the hearing which attracted over 200 people, 36 of whom shared personal experiences of the challenges facing individuals with I/DD or families caring for loved ones. Two of the Project Search program participants met Jordan Scheff, Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services. “It was very powerful testimony,” noted Kathy Riberdy, Project Search coordinator and special educator. “This was a good experience for the team.”
LARC has been working with Charlotte Hungerford Hospital to develop the model for this new program, which began this past fall. Project SEARCH provides classes in employability skills, independent living skills and internship experience to individuals with disabilities who are between the age of 18 to 35. LARC’s partner, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, is providing internships in various departments such as Cardiovascular Medicine and Nutritional Services.
The Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is collaborating with national Project SEARCH as part of its commitment to helping people with intellectual disabilities find, get and keep community-based, competitive wage jobs, a commitment LARC shares. In early 2018, LARC was chosen to be one of ten agencies nationwide to participate in the National ARC’s pilot grant program with Boston University’s Institute for Community Inclusion’s Provider Transition Network. The purpose of the program is to assist in the process of provider transformation towards competitive integrated employment. LARC’s goal is to educate staff on the processes needed to provide competitive integrated employment to individuals in the agency’s current group supported employment programs.
During the past year, LARC has been working with Charlotte Hungerford Hospital to develop a model for the new program, which began this past fall. The Project SEARCH program is designed to be a one-year program and is based on a school year. Participating individuals are working this year at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in internship positions with the goal of securing employment at the end of the year.
“This is an exciting opportunity for LARC,” according to Michael Menard, executive director at LARC. “The agency, with leadership from our vocational and day service director Tom Stanton, has been aggressively working to transform our Vocational program to align with changing requirements and community needs. Individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities are capable of working competitively and deserve to be paid a competitive wage,” Mr. Menard explained.
The Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is collaborating with national Project SEARCH as part of its commitment to helping people with intellectual disabilities find, get and keep community-based, competitive wage jobs, a commitment LARC shares. In early 2018, LARC was chosen to be one of ten agencies nationwide to participate in the National ARC’s pilot grant program with Boston University’s Institute for Community Inclusion’s Provider Transition Network. The purpose of the program is to assist in the process of provider transformation towards competitive integrated employment. LARC’s goal is to educate staff on the processes needed to provide competitive integrated employment to individuals in the agency’s current group supported employment programs.
