Farmington board hears plan to launch Project Search at CorWell Health to boost employment for students with significant disabilities

At its Jan. 7, 2025, meeting the Farmington Public School District Board of Education heard a presentation on Project Search, a one-year, on-site internship program proposed to run at CorWell Health in Farmington Hills for students with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Project Search, presenter Dr. Lydia Moore said, "is a partnership between a school district, a local business, and community agencies such as Michigan Rehabilitation Services to provide a one-year program intended for students with significant intellectual disabilities to be able to gain the skills that they need to be employable at competitive rates." Moore said the program would place interns on the host-business campus for work-based training, supported by a Farmington Public Schools teacher and job coach and by site supervisors at CorWell.

The district overview described core model elements: about an hour a day of classroom instruction focused on soft skills, roughly four hours of on-site job training each day, and a daily loop of classroom reflection and skill-transfer instruction. Moore cited statewide Project Search outcomes: 88% overall employment for the 2022–23 cohort, about 33% hired by their host site and an average wage of roughly $14 per hour at about 25 hours per week. She said fidelity reviews from the Project Search national office and Cincinnati Children's help maintain program quality.

Board members asked operational questions. A board member asked whether the program runs for only one year; Moore replied that the internship is one year for each student but that the district intends to run the program annually. When asked whether trainees would receive health-care–specific instruction, Moore said the curriculum focuses on transferable work skills (for example, environmental services routines), though CorWell has been an especially committed partner and often hires interns who meet job expectations.

Moore described supports and partnerships: a Farmington teacher on site, job coaches coordinated with Michigan Rehabilitation Services and Oakland Schools, and occupational or related services provided by the district as needed. She also said the Project Search affiliation includes initial site-license fees, training and fidelity reviews, mini-grant and promotional support, and a statewide director to assist start-up.

Moore said a parent information meeting would be held in January so families can evaluate whether Project Search is an appropriate transition option for eligible students. Board members and the superintendent voiced support; one member highlighted Project Search as an additional pathway complementing existing adult-transition offerings at Visions Unlimited and the program on Oakland Community College's campus.

Discussion (not a formal board vote) covered staffing roles, transferability of skills to nonhealth employers and potential funding through state aid supports for initial start-up and fidelity-related expenses. No formal action or vote was taken during the presentation; Moore said staff would continue planning and outreach to families.

The board will receive follow-up information and dates for the parent meeting and next implementation steps.