Covenant Health and Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH is a non-paid, hands-on, transition-to-work program for individuals with disabilities administered through Tennessee’s Vocational program. The overall goal is to obtain competitive, integrated, community employment within the school year or shortly after its conclusion.

Interns learn various job skills by training in 2-3 rotations or departments throughout the hospital. Interns are involved in selecting their rotations every 12 weeks.

Eligibility Requirements:

• 18-21, in exit year or preparing for exit
• Enrolled in Knox County School system
• Obtained or working towards special education, occupational or alternate academic diploma

Program Details:

• Transportation provided by KCS via shuttle from home to the hospital and back
• Lunch voucher provided by Covenant Health
• Program operates with KCS Teacher certified in Special Education, KCS Paraprofessional & Sertoma Skills Trainer(s)

During the initial 2-3 weeks of the program, interns spend time in the classroom participating in hospital and program orientation covering topics such as:

• Host business safety procedures and code of conduct
• Project SEARCH requirements, expectations and dress code
• Team building exercises along with tours and scavenger hunts throughout the hospital
• Interviews of interns by prospective department managers in order to establish first rotation

Project SEARCH interns participate in 1.5 hours of classroom instruction daily. The Project SEARCH curriculum includes Team Building, Workplace Safety, Technology, Self-Advocacy, Self-Determination, Maintaining Employment, Financial Literacy, Health & Wellness and Preparing for Employment.

Interns participate in job training throughout the hospital in 2-3 different rotations over the course of the program. Rotation 1 (Aug – Oct),

Rotation 2 (Nov – Feb), Rotation 3 (Feb – May). Interns select a new rotation every 12 weeks. Interns train in their assigned rotation daily from 10:00-3:15, with a 30 minute lunch.

Our site consists of an Instructor and Skills Trainers who provide direct support and training to the interns. As natural supports strengthen, the interns’ independence and mastery increases and department managers and hospital staff become confident in the interns’ work. Project SEARCH staff begin to fade supports to providing regular check-ins and act as a facilitator between the intern and the hospital staff.

• Throughout the entire internship at Covenant Health we request that interns and their families attend employment planning meetings which are held at least once per rotation
• The purpose of the meetings is to discuss intern progress and to plan for job placement and employment (job interests, transportation, work schedule, required documents, checking account, etc)

Staff members within Sertoma help interns complete job applications, attend job interviews with interns and provide up to 90 days of follow-up services after the intern’s initial hire date. Employment may occur either at the host business or within the community. Job placement is based on intern preference, experience, job performance and job availability. If an intern is not placed into employment by the end of the program in May, Sertoma will continue to work towards job placement after Project SEARCH graduation and into the summer months.

Start by checking you meet the eligibility requirements to participate. Next, fill out the form on this page and someone will reach out to you to determine next steps.