You’ve got to love it when an internship leads to direct employment, especially in the case of the partnership established between Lakeland Health and the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency — better known simply as Berrien RESA.
The education agency and local health care providers recently celebrated the achievements of the first cohort of interns participating in Project SEARCH which provides students with disabilities a one-year skill building experience focused on classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training. Of the six interns to complete the program, three students have been offered employment opportunities through Lakeland Health including, Jerry Coleman, Nutrition Services; Kenneth Schroeder, Central Processing; and Connor Craig, Volunteer Services.
Norma Tirado is Vice President of Human Resources, Information Technology, Organizational Transformation, and Chief Talent & Transformation Officer at Lakeland Health. She says, “Each of the Project SEARCH interns have helped us to look at diversity and inclusion from a different standpoint and truly understand what it means.” Tirado adds, “I’ve never seen one single program have such a large impact on an organization and I am thankful for all we’ve learned together along the way.”
Equally enamored with the success of the program is Craig Blasko, Supervisor of Ancillary Services & Programs for Berrien RESA. He says, “We’re very fortunate to have this program in southwest Michigan and are thankful for the many partnerships that made this possible.”
Project SEARCH is a school-to-work transition opportunity for students with disabilities in Berrien County. While the program itself has existed since 1996, Lakeland Health is the area’s first location to host the internship experience. Project SEARCH is coordinated by Berrien RESA and is supported by the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, Disability Network, Riverwood Center, and Michigan Rehabilitation Services.
Congratulations all around for a successful partnership in Michigan’s Great Southwest. Shown in the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com are the graduates of Project SEARCH, and officials from the participating agencies.
