Project SEARCH Florida Implementation Application
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Project SEARCH site. Through a partnership between the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. (FDDC) and Project SEARCH/Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, we have a common goal to develop fifteen new Project SEARCH sites serving young adults with disabilities in their last year of high school. Ten of those new sites will begin in the fall of 2017. We are seeking the additional five sites to begin in the fall of 2018. The new sitesshould represent new counties/school districts in Florida that do not currently have a Project SEARCH program. We are particularly interested in expanding Project SEARCH to counties/school districts in geographically different areas of the state, and we encourage consortium sites, particularly for small and rural counties/school districts. Lastly, we are seeking these sites for the 2018-2019 school year who have secured a host business or are close to finalizing the commitment from a local, large employer. If selected, your site will open in August 2018 following the school year calendar for 2018-19. This application is for those communities inFlorida that are able to meet that timeframe. The first training step will require the participation of all partner team members and will be a two day session held at a regional location in Florida in late fall of 2017. The cost to travel to the training location is the responsibility of each site selected. With trainings being scheduled regionally, the cost for travel should be minimal. Applications chosen will be confirmed by theFlorida Project SEARCH Advisory Committee.
Please complete the application and return it electronically to Susie Rutkowski, by Friday, October 6, 2017. Persons will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours of receipt of the application. Questions can be directed to Susie at the email address listed above.
If selected, you MUST commit to send your team to the following trainings listed below:
- Project SEARCH 2-Day Overview:
- Monday and Tuesday, 11/6/17-11/7/17 or Wednesday and Thursday, 11/8/17 – 11/9/17.
- Choose one of these dates.
- The locations will be determined once the new sites are chosen.
- 2-Day Teaching and Coaching for Success:
- May 2018 dates to be determine
- Instructor, Skills Trainer and Job Developer should be hired by this time and attend this 2 day training
- Other technical assistance can be provided to the teams individually or in groups between December 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018.
Please note that per the contract between FDDC and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, all training and technical assistance must be completed by June 1, 2018.
- What is the name of the community that will implement Project SEARCH? (County and city please). Please also list if you plan to serve more than one county.
- List the School Districtthat will lead the implementation effort and serve as the lead contact for the Project SEARCH staff.
School District:
Lead Contact Name/Title:
Address:
Phone:
E Mail:
- Where did your team learn about Project SEARCH? Briefly describe how you learned about the Project SEARCH model and how your group prepared to submit this application.
- List each of the partnerorganizations that will serve on the planning/steering team.
School District(s):
Contact Name:
Title (The Special Education Director and/or the Superintendent is required to sign this application)
Contact Email address:
Florida Vocational RehabilitationArea Office:
Contact Name:
Title (Area Manager is required to sign this application)
Contact Email address:
Community Rehabilitation Provider (Job Coach/Job Placement Services):
Contact Name:
Title (The administrator of the agency is required to sign this application)
Email address:
Does this community rehabilitation provider have a current Employment/Supported Employment RateContract with the FL Division of Vocational Rehabilitation?
Source of long-term vocational supports (e.g., APD funding for follow-along support):
Company:
Payer of Services:
Contact Name, if known:
Title:
Email address:
Business Partner, if already identified. Although it is not necessary to have the host business identified, priority will be given to those teams who have a commitment from their host business. It is not essential to have the host partner identified at the time of application; however, all applicants should include potential host business partners and make inquiries regarding their interest.
Name:
Title:
Email address:
Please listnames, titles of representatives from any other Community Support Agencies/Groups that will be working with your team: (e.g., CareerSource Florida, Family Advocacy Groups/organizations, and Center for Independent Living organizations)
Name:
Organization:
Title:
Email address:
Name:
Organization:
Title:
Email address:
- How many meetings/conference calls have occurred with ALL school/agency partners to learn about Project SEARCH? Did the team discuss expectations for participation including the roles/responsibilities for each partner? Please list the dates of those meetings/conference calls, attendees, and a brief, bulleted summary of meeting/conference call purpose and outcomes.
- Please briefly describe your plan for financially supporting eachof the required staffing components:
- Instructor – it is critical that the school district has the ability to designate funds for a full time special education instructor dedicated for the Project SEARCH program beginning in the summer of 2018.
- Skills Trainer(s)
- Job Developer
- AV and supplies
Note: No cash awards are made to Project SEARCH partner agencies under this initiative. The on-going operation and sustainability of the program is a reallocation of existing resources.
- Project SEARCH sites should serve 8-12 students each year. Briefly describe how you plan to identify and recruit students into your Project SEARCH program. What are the referral sources and how will you make certain the recruitment pool is large enough to choose 8-12 young people with disabilities who need and can benefit from the program. Describe how you will inform families.
- Please give details about your potential (or secured) host business site. (Type and size of business, plan for securing this business as a host site, current status of their interest in partnering with your team, etc.)
- If appropriate, briefly describe the kinds of internshipsavailable within the potential host business setting for your Project SEARCH site.
- Describe the resources that will be available for Project SEARCH staff within the host business (classroom, cafeteria, public transportation, equipment, entry level employment, etc.)if the business has been identified and committed to Project SEARCH.
- Please tell us anything else we should know about your community that would demonstrate your readiness and commitment to becoming a Project SEARCH site. (Existing transition needs, success with youth employment programming, current partnership efforts for youth with disabilities)
NAMES AND SIGNATURES of each partner school/agency is required on this application:
______
Superintendent or ESE Director of School District
______
Vocational Rehabilitation Unit Manager
______
Director of Community Rehabilitation (Supported Employment) Provider Agency
______
Administrator of Host Business Partner if secured
______
Family Organizations Representative(optional)
______
Other Partner organizations administrator(optional)
Project SEARCH at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has partnered with the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. to expand the Project SEARCH program throughout Florida.
irectorendent/Director______large enough to s of their interest in pa