CUSD PROJECT SEARCH PROGRAM HONORED
Award Recognizes Hospital’s Commitment to Diversity
Through Project SEARCH Program
The California Department of Rehabilitation has named Mission Hospital a recipient of its 2009 Employer of the Year award. This prestigious award honors outstanding employers in south Orange and San Diego counties who have demonstrated a commitment to hiring people with special needs.
Mission Hospital’s partnership with Capistrano Unified School District (CSUD) for Project SEARCH, a vocational training program for individuals with special needs, led to their recognition as one of six exemplary employers in the region. Through a two-semester internship period, students learn skills for employment by working at various jobs within the hospital, from clerical tasks to nutrition services. Along the way, they attain marketable skills for any industry through problem solving and communication. Staff members at the hospital volunteer to support and assist the students as they learn to transition from school to the workplace.
“Employers are our most important resource in the ongoing struggle to achieve equality and employment for people with disabilities,” said Chaz Compton, district administrator for the California Department of Rehabilitation’s San Diego District. “Organizations like Mission Hospital are wonderful examples of how creativity, collaboration and a commitment to excellence can benefit both employer and employee.”
Now in its second year, Project SEARCH currently has five students completing internships at Mission Hospital. Inspiring this year’s class are two 2008 program graduates who now work at the hospital.
“Mission Hospital has shown that through caring and a desire to help others, students with special needs can be successfully prepared for employment and employed with a high level of expertise through various settings,” said Gerry Strickland, Director of Transition of the CUSD Adult Transition Program.
“Though we are deeply honored by the Employer of the Year Award, the students enrolled in Project SEARCH are really the ones who should be celebrated,” said Peter F. Bastone, Mission Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer. “Their unwavering work ethic and positive spirits are an inspiration to the entire hospital, and we have no doubt that they will continue to prosper and flourish in our community for years to come.”
Submitted By;
Phiphi Tran
