2. News Room

---

DWD, Bellin Hospital, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital Celebrate Graduation of Seven Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH Program Prepares Young Adults with Disabilities for Rewarding Careers

GREEN BAY – Kole Konrad spent the past nine months at HSHS St. Vincent and Bellin hospitals learning new skills and trying new work opportunities through Project SEARCH, a collaborative program overseen by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Konrad, a graduate of Pulaski High School, completed Project SEARCH internship rotations in the hospital's general store, environmental services department, and pharmacy. Throughout his time with the program, Konrad visited local businesses, including Packer Fastener, and learned from guest speakers on a variety of topics including infection prevention, money management, interview etiquette, and independent living skills. He and his fellow interns also had the opportunity to participate in phone training at ASPIRO to learn how to answer phones in a business setting.

Konrad, along with six other students and young adults with disabilities, celebrated the completion of Project SEARCH on May 28, during a graduation ceremony that drew friends and families to Green Bay. With help learning new work skills through Project SEARCH, Konrad was offered and accepted a permanent position in the pharmacy department at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.

"The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is excited to celebrate the state's nearly 200 Project SEARCH graduates, who have explored new skills, expanded their opportunities, and earned a great sense of accomplishment in the work they have done over the past nine months," said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. "In Wisconsin, successful programs like Project SEARCH reaffirm the tremendous skills and talents individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce, and that success would not be possible without the dedicated employers and statewide partners who deliver the program, day in and day out."

The graduation ceremony, held at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, marked the completion of a nine- to 12-month immersive work experience. The interns recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities.

In addition to the host site, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), CESA 8, ASPIRO, Inclusa, and Lakeland Care. Statewide, 28 premier employers are participating in Project SEARCH this year.

Project SEARCH is a collaborative effort among state vocational rehabilitation agencies, area schools, local employers, and long-term care organizations to help interns acquire marketable, competitive, and transferable skills that lead to employment. The interns complete multiple 10-week rotations to maximize exposure to different career paths and learn both employability skills in a classroom and hands-on job skills in the business environment.

Started at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996, Project SEARCH has provided workforce training to over 1,800 Wisconsin residents since its statewide launch in 2008. For more information, visit Project SEARCH Wisconsin.

---

ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.