Goodwill NCW celebrates Project SEARCH grads poised for jobs

Goodwill North Central Wisconsin (Goodwill NCW) celebrated the accomplishments of 4 interns who graduated from the Project SEARCH site at Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital on May 28.

Project SEARCH is a nine-month internship program that prepares people with disabilities to enter the workforce. The international program has a local presence in Rhinelander, thanks to partnerships with Aspirus Health, Goodwill NCW, the School District of Rhinelander, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, TMG, Lakeland Care and Inclusa. The program is built to provide direct experience that is transferrable to jobs and culminates in a graduation ceremony, after which participants seek employment in the community.

“This is a testament to how a successful partnership and innovative thinking can provide opportunities for any student of any ability”, said Kayla Countney, Manager of Mission Relations of Goodwill NCW. “It is extremely rewarding to see students gain confidence and become empowered to showcase their skills, talents, and abilities as they move into the workforce as young adults. They really embody our mission of Elevating People by Eliminating Barriers to Employment.”

The Rhinelander Project SEARCH program is a hybrid site, welcoming students referred to the program by local school districts as well as adults enrolled with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. While participating in Project SEARCH, the interns rotate through various departments within the hospital to gain hands-on skills that will help them in their future employment.

“Project SEARCH has been an opportunity to learn these skills and to build not just physical stamina, but also the ability to learn from others and learn skills that won’t just apply to one job but can apply to others”, said graduating student Jonah Woyak. “I feel like Project SEARCH has helped me not just grow professionally but also grow as a person and my personality has changed because of all the skills we learned and all the different people you help and work with.”

The hospital setting provides a variety of different training experiences. Based on their career goals and interests, interns have opportunities to train in various departments including, environmental services, the lab, pharmacy, the cafeteria or with the nursing staff. Nationally, 72 percent of those who participated in Project SEARCH in 2022-23 secured employment after completing the program.