Santa Barbara, CA (March 1, 2021) PathPoint launched three new Project SEARCH work-immersion programs for young adults with developmental disabilities in partnership with Pacifica Senior Living in Santa Barbara, Regency Palms Senior Living in Oxnard, and Avila Senior Living in San Luis Obispo.
Interns learn on-the-job skills at the workplace, rotating through the assisted-living facility departments, supported by PathPoint who also provides classroom instruction on employment topics such as team building, job interviews, and health and safety. After the one-year program, interns graduate with skills, confidence, and ongoing support in securing jobs in the community. Programs such as Project SEARCH address employment disparities. In California, only 35% of people with disabilities are employed, compared to 76.5% of the general population.
In addition to long-term care facilities, PathPoint partners with hospitals and hotels for Project SEARCH sites. The program receives generous financial assistance from the community, including from the MUFG Union Bank Foundation which has supported eight Project SEARCH sites.
“Combining daily skills training in an immersive workplace setting with guidance from a team of professionals and mentors has proven to be a successful model in preparing individuals with developmental disabilities for competitive jobs,” said PathPoint President and CEO Harry Bruell. “We’re especially appreciative of our community partners, working with us during the pandemic under strict health and safety guidelines, who share the goal of inclusive hiring.”
PathPoint oversees 14 Project SEARCH sites throughout Central and Southern California: Avila Senior Living in San Luis Obispo, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, three Dignity Health hospitals in Ventura and Kern counties, Embassy Suites by Hilton San Luis Obispo, Four Seasons Westlake Village, two Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Los Angeles, Henry Mayo Newhall Medical Center, Pacifica Senior Living in Santa Barbara and Ventura, Regency Palms Senior Living in Oxnard, and UCLA Medical Center.
Project SEARCH is a national program that partners with local employers, disability service providers,
educational institutions and Regional Centers. For more on Project Search, please visit:
http://www.projectsearch.us/ and https://www.pathpoint.org/services/project-search/.