Cherry Hill, NJ, July 23, 2020 – Jefferson Health in New Jersey has been named the winner of an international Project SEARCH award in the category of Innovative Employment for its internship program for young adults with disabilities. This marked the second year for the Project SEARCH Spotlight on Model Fidelity awards.

A total of three Spotlight Awards are given out each year in three different categories. The Spotlight on Innovative Employment, which Jefferson won, recognizes teams that develop quality jobs and rewarding careers that make use of the skills and experience participants gained in their internships. The Project SEARCH leadership team — which selected the winners — was particularly impressed with the examples of hired Project SEARCH graduates working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response at Jefferson. In addition, Jefferson Health New Jersey was one of 229 Project SEARCH programs to be recognized with a Employment Outcome Award for its high employment rate of Project SEARCH interns.

In 2016, Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital became the first site in southern New Jersey to partner with Project SEARCH — an international work-transition program for young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Project SEARCH at Jefferson Health — working in conjunction with the Cherry Hill-based Y.A.L.E. School — is the only program in New Jersey specializing in autism spectrum disorders, with a focus on aspirational employment.

Project SEARCH interns at Jefferson work in a variety of departments, including Health Information Management, Patient Accounts, Storeroom, Food Service, and Environmental Services. “Our interns are taught rewarding job skills throughout the school year,” said Darlene Anderson, Jefferson Project SEARCH Coordinator. “Our program has consistently prepared and supported graduates in employment that is aspirational and innovative.” Along with classroom instruction through the Y.A.L.E. School, interns use the skills they learn to help them find related positions that match their talents and interests.

Jefferson has hired several interns upon completion of their Project SEARCH internships. Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and has more than 400 host sites worldwide. For more information about Project SEARCH at Jefferson Health, visit www.yaleschoolnj.com/about/project-search.

About Project SEARCH: Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, which is still the administrative headquarters for the organization. Project SEARCH is a business-led, one-year work-preparation program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most participants are enrolled while transitioning from high school to work. The hallmark of Project SEARCH is total workplace immersion, which facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training. Project SEARCH's primary objective is to secure competitive employment for every program participant.

About Y.A.L.E. School: Y.A.L.E. School (Young Adolescents Learning Experience) is an NJ state-approved private special education school with nine campus locations throughout southern NJ and the greater Philadelphia region serving students with disabilities ages 3 through 21. Across four of those campus locations, Y.A.L.E. School offers a highly specialized program for students with autism that provides low student-to-staff ratios, supervision by highly-trained and certified behavior specialist, a comprehensive curriculum, intensive transition support, integrated and consultative speech services, support for families and an extended school year program in the summer. Since 1976, students with disabilities have been placed at Y.A.L.E. School locations by their local school district and attend at no cost to parents.

About Jefferson Health: Jefferson Health, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, is reimagining health care in the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson’s dedicated team of doctors, nurses, health professionals, and staff provides a range of primary to highly-specialized care through 14 hospitals (seven are Magnet®-designated by the ANCC for nursing excellence), more than 40 outpatient and urgent care locations, the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Magee Rehabilitation and the JeffConnect® telemedicine program. For 2019-2020, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals in eight specialities by U.S. News & World Report. Jefferson Health’s mission is to improve the lives of patients in the communities it is privileged to serve through safe, effective, equitable, compassionate care.