First, make sure you have all your partners represented and on board to begin the program.  The partners must include those in bold listed below (if you are not in the United States, we will work with you to identify the analogous organizations in your country):

  • Education: Local School District, Career Technical School, Educational Service Center, several neighboring school districts, adult education organization for adult programs, community colleges, etc.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation (both local counselor and area supervisor if possible)
  • Community Rehabilitation Partner (provider of skills training and job development). In states where the skills trainer is hired directly by VR, this agency is not required unless it is the long-term support agency.
  • Developmental Disabilities Agency or Mental Health Provider (for long term follow along services)
  • Workforce Investment Board / WIOA agencies in your community
  • Host Business (the planning process can begin before a host business is identified but should include them as soon as they are secured)
  • Representation from a disability organization for families

Have a meeting with your local partners to explore the possibility of Project SEARCH in your area and ensure that all partners are committed to implementing the program before moving forward.  Feel free to utilize the Project SEARCH videos from this page: Who we Are

Each state has a designated Project SEARCH Program Specialist from the team at National Headquarters at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Your Program Specialist will assist your team through the start-up process. If you have not already made contact with the Program Specialist for your area, please contact us at ProjectSEARCH@cchmc.org. In your email message, be sure to indicate your location and mention your desire to start a new program site.

When all the partners are committed to beginning Project SEARCH, one of the partners will need to complete the Project SEARCH licensing agreement and contract for on-site Technical Assistance.   To get this process started, contact our business office at ProjectSEARCHBusinessOffice@cchmc.org.  With our Business Office, you can review the technical assistance procedures, the costs for the license/technical assistance, and outcomes associated with both.  Once the licensing agreement process has started and payment has been arranged, your Project SEARCH Program Specialist will contact you to arrange the on-site Technical Assistance.