St. Mary's Project SEARCH graduates seven local high school students

Altrice Smith had hoped that her son, Trey, would be selected for the Project SEARCH program ever since he was in elementary school. Last week, she watched as he graduated from the program.

“As a parent with an individual on the autism spectrum, this was the premier program when it started,” she said. “You know, you’re always thinking ahead. This is something that we’ve been working towards for a very long time.”

Project SEARCH aims to teach employable skills to – and ultimately find jobs for – people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through three internships each lasting 10 weeks, spread out across eight months.

Trey Smith hopes his participation will help him find a job after he graduates from high school this month. Through the program, he completed internships in the endoscopy, joint replacement and materials management units at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital.

His favorite experience was working in materials management, because he was able to stock medical supplies.

“I liked the boxes cause I used the box cutter to open the boxes and put the boxes on the cart,” Smith said.

Typically, Project SEARCH serves students who are served by individual education programs and who are in their last year of high school eligibility.

On June 8, interns, parents and colleagues gathered for the Project SEARCH St. Mary’s class of 2018 graduation, during which each of the seven interns received a graduation certificate as well as a special gift for completing the program.

The ceremony opened with the reading of a reflection that was taken from the group’s daily team huddles and spoke about recognizing one’s individual strengths and talents. Drew Burrichter, director of mission at St. Mary’s, blessed each graduate’s hands with holy oil.

Burrichter told the audience that the oils used for strengthening, renewal, healing and protection, instructing the graduates to face the audience as he said, “May God bless you, and may these hands continue to bring healing to the world.”

Next, Alissa Brooke, site coordinator for the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, recognized each team member, commending the employment specialists for setting a new record.

“For the first time, three of our seven graduating interns have already been hired and started in their new positions,” Brooke said. Job sites included a Richmond-area Holiday Inn Express and the Children’s Museum of Richmond.

Each graduate was individually recognized in a surprise video montage that complied interviews with their internship supervisors and parents, and discussed their appreciation for the interns as well as the ways in which the graduates had changed throughout the eight months.

Altrice Smith explained that the experience had caused Trey to become more independent and aware of consequences.

“He would start setting reminders and doing more adult things,” she said.

To be considered for the program, each intern must be between 18 and 21 years old, enrolled in Henrico County Public Schools and have completed their education requirements, Brooke said. The interns are then selected by a committee based on their applications and interviews.

“We’re looking for people who really need the support and [who] we think would benefit from having intensive training in employment to learn those skills before they go out and look for a job,” Brooke said.

The interns work in their units Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., with one hour of instructional time at the beginning and end of each day.

“They’re working on employment-related skills, whether it’s how to interview, how to ask for help, how to accept directions, shake hands, things like that,” Brooke said.

Although Trey Smith has not yet secured a job, his mother is confident that Project SEARCH, which is entirely free of charge to the families, has provided him with the necessary skills to do so.

“Definitely the work skills, and those employability skills will help him achieve those goals,” she said.

In addition to providing funding for the program, specialists at VCU and the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services will continue to work with each graduate until they are employed, said DARS Henrico field office manager Sherrina Sewell.

“We really come in to play to make sure that they’re fully prepared and that before they leave here,” Sewell said, “touching base to make sure that their resumes are updated and they’re ready to go and get prepared for work.”

Both Sewell and Erica Schwartz, who serves as the DARS unit supervisor for the St. Mary’s site, agreed that the best part about their job is seeing the interns transition from students to employees.

“I love being a part of their transition from high school to adult life and the world of work,” Schwartz said. “Today is such a warm reminder of why we do what we do.”