June 5, 2017 | Lauren Woods - Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine

UConn Health Builds Careers for Project SEARCH Interns

UConn Health once again teamed up with Favarh to help supply internship opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for Project SEARCH. The second class of interns graduated on June 2.

Project SEARCH

UConn Health and Favarh leadership gathered to celebrate with the 2017 Project SEARCH class of graduating UConn Health interns on June 2.

On June 2 the second class of eight UConn Health interns graduated from Project SEARCH, an innovative career internship program designed to prepare young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Project SEARCH internship graduate, Lia Muchin of West Hartford, is now employed with these colleagues in food services at UConn Health as an employee of Sodexo.
2017 Project SEARCH internship graduate, Lia Muchin of West Hartford, is now employed with these colleagues in food services at UConn Health as an employee of Sodexo.

Already, three interns of the 2017 Project SEARCH graduating class have secured jobs: Kristin Sadowsky of Burlington at the OneDigital Health and Benefits insurance brokerage in Farmington; Nick Sinacori of Simsbury as a courier in UConn Health’s mailroom as an employee of Avant Business Services; and Lia Muchin of West Hartford in food services at UConn Health as an employee of Sodexo. The other five graduates seeking employment are: Vanessa Flenke of Columbia, J.D. Riley of Simsbury, Allison Mannix of Newington, Michael Pestretto of Granby, and Selina Felix of Bloomfield.

The only Project SEARCH program in Connecticut is a partnership between Favarh and UConn Health.

Last year’s first-ever graduating class of seven Project SEARCH interns at UConn Health all are employed one-year after completing their UConn Health internships. At the graduation Tammy Annis, director of Transitional Services at Favarh, shared the good news that Project SEARCH at UConn Health will soon be receiving an award for its 100 percent job placement rate for the success of its inaugural class.

“It is only our second year, but we do it right,” said Annis. “All seven interns are employed because of the amazing mentorship at UConn Health. We couldn’t do it without you. You did yourself proud.”

Stephen E. Morris, executive director of Favarh – the Arc of the Farmington Valley said: “The program works. It is the most successful youth transition program in the nation at placing young adults with IDD into gainful employment.”

Anne Horbatuck, VP of ambulatory services at UConn Health addressed the crowd of graduating interns, their family and friends, and internship mentors from UConn Health.

“Project SEARCH works so well because of all our partners at UConn Health,” said Horbatuck. “They exemplify the caring spirit of UConn Health.”

The interns rotated throughout different UConn Health departments during the year, learning about customer service, how to write an effective resume, as well as various tasks in areas such as food service, the mailroom, housekeeping, and even dermatology and the medical school admissions office.

Speaking directly to the graduating interns Horbatuck said: “Your drive and dedication is inspiring,” she said. “Your impact on UConn Health is immeasurable. We are happy to be a part of your life and continued success.”

Horbatuck added: “Reach for the moon, even if you miss, you will be among the stars – and you are stars!”

Project SEARCH was founded in 1996 at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The program is a one-year, unpaid internship program designed for students either in their last year of high school or graduates in their first year out of school. Project SEARCH programs can be found in 45 states and in the Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Holland, Bahrain, Australia, and Portugal.

“Young people with IDD in our Project SEARCH program are demonstrating that when given the opportunity and proper supports to succeed, they can and do exceed, often beyond our preconceived notions of what is possible,” said Roselyn Wright, education and development specialist in UConn Health’s Human Resources Department.