Project SEARCH
Monroe County's Project SEARCH is a dynamic internship program designed to help young adults with disabilities transition from school to competitive employment. This program is a collaboration between the Monroe County Intermediate School District (MCISD), ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital, and several community partners, including Goodwill Industries of Southeast Michigan, Lake Erie Transit, and Monroe County Community Mental Health Authority.
Program Overview
Project SEARCH at ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital is designed for young adults with disabilities who are interested in gaining real-world job skills and increasing their independence through workplace training and internships. Project SEARCH offers a total workplace immersion experience, combining classroom instruction with hands-on internships across various departments within ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital. Interns rotate through departments such as Dietary, Operating Room, Emergency Room, Ambulatory Surgery, Logistics, Human Resources, Housekeeping, Warehouse, Infusion, Laboratory, Outpatient Rehabilitation, and the gift shop. This exposure helps participants develop competitive, marketable, and transferable skills essential for achieving their employment goals.
The program is modeled after the original Project SEARCH initiative that began at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996 and has since expanded globally.
Recent Achievements
In June 2026, five interns graduated from ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital Project SEARCH achieving their goal of competitive employment in their communities.
Eligibility and Application
Eligible applicants should demonstrate a desire to work, the ability to participate in a full-day training program, and a commitment to developing competitive employment skills. Students, families, school personnel, and community agencies interested in learning more about the program or beginning the application process are encouraged to contact Lisa Gramlich for additional information, program requirements, and application materials.
Business Advisory Council (BAC)
Project SEARCH Business Advisory Council
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide the expertise necessary for Project SEARCH program sites to stay connected to local employers and to understand workforce development needs in their business sector. As an active sector-based BAC, we will create competitive employment opportunities for Project SEARCH graduates. We will be affective advocates for diversity policies and be a resource for creating networking opportunities for businesses to share best practices in disability employment.
Program Outcomes
Since its launch in 2009, Project SEARCH at ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital has helped young adults build meaningful workplace and independent living skills through hands-on internship experiences and employment preparation. From 2009–2026, a total of 117 interns have participated in the program, with 93 graduates obtaining competitive employment opportunities following completion of the program. This represents an impressive 79% employment placement rate, reflecting the program’s strong commitment to preparing interns for success in the workforce and in their communities.
Who We Are
Who We Are
PMRH Project SEARCH’s inaugural year started in Fall 2009 at ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital as a partnership with Monroe County Intermediate School District, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Community Mental Health, and Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Michigan.
PMRH Project SEARCH brings a successful international program for young adults with developmental disabilities to the campus of ProMedica Monroe, one of 20 program sites in Michigan.
This Secondary Transition program combines classroom time provided by Monroe County Intermediate School District with a year-long unpaid internship at PMRH. Participants gain experience along with competitive, marketable, and transferable skills in a variety of settings that align with their interests and abilities. The goal of the program upon completion is competitive integrated employment in their community.
