Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH offers clients the opportunity to develop valuable and transferable work skills through an on-the-job vocational training program and job placement program.

Project SEARCH Goals: Our goals are to expose each intern to a range of jobs in healthcare, public sector and other settings that offer training of meaningful transferable work skills, to ensure that every participant gains experience that will build their résumé; to make it possible for graduates to seamlessly move into a job development phase; and, to see each Project SEARCH graduate secure gainful employment. EBI’s support doesn’t end there. Once an individual is placed in a job, we provide on-the-job support and training for as long as needed.

Worksite Rotations: Interns build both academic and vocational skills through “hands-on” work experience in various departments throughout the host business. These unpaid student internships involve complex but routine tasks, such as, assembly, clerical, data entry, insurance verification, document filing, courier, sterilization, stocking and environmental services. Project SEARCH graduates will have opportunities to rotate through three departments during their training.

Typical Day for Project SEARCH Interns: Project SEARCH interns attend the internship program five days per week, Monday through Friday, typically from 9:00 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. with a 45-minute lunch.

Employment Outcomes: Project SEARCH has been instrumental in dramatically raising the bar for employment of individuals with developmental disabilities Nationwide data show an unemployment rate of 92% for individuals with disabilities, with more than half of the 8% of individuals with disabilities who are employed, earning less than minimum wage. Graduates of Project SEARCH are earning, on average, 80% above the Federal minimum wage and 65% of them receive health benefits through their employers.

Project SEARCH Graduates have gone on to work for the following employers: Alameda County Public Defender’s Office, Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, Department of Public Health, Primus Power, Tiburcio Vasquez Medical Services, Ed Robert’s Campus, Alameda Alliance, Eden Medical Center, East Bay Innovations, Lowe’s, Nob Hill Foods, Child Unique Montessori, World Institute on Disability, Alameda County Law Library, La Clinica de la Raza, Macy’s, Safeway, and many more.

Project SEARCH Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 22 years of age by the specific program start date or graduated with a high school diploma, have an active case with the Regional Center of the East Bay, must be able to utilize public transportation and be able to meet the health, background and code of conduct criteria required by business site. Most importantly, applicants must have a commitment to work and demonstrate the ability to learn the tasks offered by the site with the available support of 1:4 ratio, and maintain excellent attendance and professionalism. Applicants will be reviewed and eligible applicants will be called to arrange interviews.

County of Alameda Project SEARCH

The County of Alameda Project SEARCH is a collaborative program with the Oakland Unified School District. Interns who are accepted to this site will also be enrolled in the Oakland Adult & Career Education Program.

Classroom activities at the County of Alameda will be taught by a teacher from OACE. Department of Rehabilitation provides funding for the OUSD teacher and Job Coaching through East Bay Innovations is funded by RCEB.

Twelve interns will be accepted for this site. Job skills training will include data entry, alphanumeric filing, filing of employee documents, scanning, and other administrative office skills.

Program runs February through January each year. Applications for each program should be submitted at least six months prior to the start date of the program.

Project SEARCH Claremont

East Bay Innovations has partnered with the Claremont Club & Spa to implement a Project SEARCH internship program starting in January 2020. With an 86% average job placement rate for graduating interns, Project SEARCH builds valuable and transferable work skills and sets interns on an exciting career path.

Eight interns are selected for this program which runs January through December each year. Some of the tasks include assisting the housekeeping department, working in the kitchen supporting the Chef, assembling amenities for the guests, working with children in the childcare center, working in the laundry; washing and folding items, working in the Spa as a locker room attendant.

Click here to download an application for Project SEARCH!