Three Project SEARCH Interns “Bridging” to Careers

FARMINGTON (May 29, 2024) – Three interns with Favarh’s Project SEARCH at UConn Health, an innovative, school-to-work transition program designed to prepare young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for the world of competitive employment, gathered with family, friends, and mentors to celebrate their graduation from the program.

The interns graduated during a special “bridge" ceremony, marking the completion of an academic year of work and study at UConn Health. The three interns rotated into different UConn Health departments during the year, learning about customer service, how to write an effective resume, as well as various tasks in areas such as food service, warehouse, housekeeping, and even the pharmacy and dental finance departments.

Founded in 1996 at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Project SEARCH is a one-year, unpaid internship program designed for students with disabilities either in their last year of high school or high school graduates in their first years out of school. Project SEARCH programs can be found in 45 states, and Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Holland, Bahrain, Australia, and Portugal.

“The program works,” said Stephen E. Morris, executive director of Favarh – the Arc of the Farmington Valley. “It is the most successful youth transition program in the nation at placing young adults with IDD into gainful competitive employment.”

Now in its ninth year, Favarh’s Project SEARCH at UConn Health is a partnership between Favarh and UConn Health located at UConn Health’s Farmington campus. It is the first Project SEARCH program in Connecticut and due to its success, over a dozen others have started across the state.
“Young people with IDD in our Project SEARCH program are demonstrating that when given the opportunity and proper support to succeed, they can and do exceed our preconceived notions of what is possible,” says Morris.

The three graduates are Michaela Donelan of Farmington, Zyren Collins of Waterbury, and Kyle Gonzalez of Avon.

Two of the graduates are currently interviewing for jobs. And Kyle Gonzalez landed a job before graduation with Morrison Healthcare. The program has a 98% success rate of helping its graduates gain competitive employment upon program completion, one of the highest program success rates in the nation.

Favarh (pronounced "FAY-var") was founded in 1958 by eight local families who all wanted a better life for their children with intellectual disabilities. Today, Favarh is a local chapter of the Arc, the world's largest community-based organization for people with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities. Favarh supports more than 350 youths, adults, seniors, and families throughout the Greater Farmington Valley area and beyond. Headquartered in Canton, it is the town’s largest private employer with over 300 employees. For more information visit favarh.org.