Pictured above is the 2023-2024 Project SEARCH intern cohort.

What is Project SEARCH?

The Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work Program is a unique, business-led, one-year employment preparation program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations.

In River Falls, Project SEARCH is based out of the River Falls Area Hospital (part of Allina Health) and is taught by River Falls School District employee Natasha Herum. Serving 8 individuals from River Falls and surrounding communities, we strive to build transferable job skills that will ultimately provide each intern with competitive employment opportunities.

Program Outcomes

By holding interns to high expectations and facilitating a work-like environment, interns gain the hard and soft skills needed to achieve in any employment setting. Interns can expect to learn and/or refine the following skills:

Team building- Interns will learn how to work within a team and understand the different roles team members might hold
Workplace safety- Interns will practice taking appropriate safety precautions in multiple settings
Technology- Interns will learn how to be a good digital citizen and use technology to become more employable
Self-advocacy- Interns will work to identify their strengths, needs, interests, and preferences
Financial literacy- Interns will learn about banking, budgeting, paychecks, and more
Professionalism- Interns learn the importance of professionalism in the workplace and practice the skills that will help them maintain future employment including demonstrating a strong work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality, etc. Interns will also build their professional documents, use job search engines, and practice interviewing
Communication and social skills- Interns will master professional communication and recognize the social skills expected in different situations
Relationship building- Interns will analyze different types of relationships and learn how to begin and maintain positive relationships with others
Health and Wellness- Interns establish healthy habits by reviewing nutrition information, performing physical activities, and practicing mindfulness

Due to this rigorous course of study, the 2020-2021 Project SEARCH cohort exited the program with 86% of the interns (6 out of 7) being competitively employed.