|
ALBERTINA KERR, KAISER SUNNYSIDE, AND BANK OF AMERICA ANNOUNCE GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR PROJECT SEARCH INTERNS
PORTLAND, Ore. (May 24, 2018) – Albertina Kerr and Kaiser Permanente will host a graduation ceremony for their Project SEARCH participants on May 25, 2018 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center – Sunnybrook Bldg.- Conference Rooms A&B-10180 SE Sunnyside Rd., Clackamas, OR 97015. This year’s graduating class of seven young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, participated in the nine-month internship and employment training program receiving classroom instruction, career exploration and learned technical and soft skills including communication, accountability and customer service.
Albertina Kerr’s Project SEARCH employment program helps young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain professional skills, find jobs and transition to careers in integrated work places. Albertina Kerr’s nationally recognized program holds an employment outcome rate of 86 percent by placing its interns into integrated workplaces. Albertina Kerr’s Project SEARCH is the first successful program of its type in the state of Oregon. Sunnyside’s graduating class worked in Environmental Services, Materials, Sterile Processing, ICU, Pediatrics, Food and Nutrition and Nursing Administration while participating in the program.
This program would not be possible without financial and community support. Bank of America Charitable Foundation generously supported this program with a $10,000 grant. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation supports workforce development programs that prepare individuals for meaningful employment with access to skills training.
“Project SEARCH exposes interns to an integrated work place increasing their independence and confidence in obtaining employment,” said Kayla Hall, Program Manager. Recent graduate, Lisa Snegeriv said, “It helped me with confidence and to learn new skills.” Lisa has landed her first full-time job at Fizz and Bubble.
This will be Albertina Kerr’s fourth Project SEARCH graduating class. Their first program was introduced in 2015 in partnership with Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center, which hosted their graduating class earlier this month of eight interns. This is Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center second graduating class.
For more information about Project SEARCH, contact Jennifer Harmon at 503.408.4721 or Jennifer.Harmon@AlbertinaKerr.org.
About Albertina Kerr
Since 1907, Albertina Kerr has strengthened Oregon families and communities. Today, Albertina Kerr empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health challenges and other social barriers to lead self-determined lives and reach their full potential. For more information about Albertina Kerr, call 503.239.8101 or visit www.AlbertinaKerr.org
About Kaiser Permanente Northwest: Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to improving the health of individuals and the communities it served. Community initiatives are focused on the following categories: providing care and coverage to uninsured and underinsured individuals; helping federally qualified health centers, free-clinics, and other non-profit organizations improve and expand their treatment capacity; strengthening the health care industry through medical research, education, and supporting employee volunteering and community involvement.
About Project SEARCH: A nationally recognized internship program, Project SEARCH partners with local businesses to provide job training and skill development. This 9-month internship program trains interns in three different jobs, providing a chance to learn about strengths, skills, and work options they might be interested in pursuing. In addition, interns receive job coaching services and help with job placement.
# # #