Board hears CLAU/CLIU report on Project SEARCH, VIP programs; East Penn has about five participants
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Summary
Board member Dr. Whitney reported on Project SEARCH and the VIP program at the Carbon‑Lehigh Intermediate Unit, highlighting employment pathways for students with disabilities and noting East Penn currently has approximately five students in the programs.
Dr. Whitney, reporting on the Carbon‑Lehigh Intermediate Unit (CLIU) Board of Directors meeting, summarized presentations on Project SEARCH and the VIP program, which the CLIU uses to transition older students with disabilities toward employment and independent living. "These are highly successful programs that . . . give these students a level of independence that they would probably not otherwise receive," Dr. Whitney said.
According to Dr. Whitney, Project SEARCH is a national program the CLIU adopted several years ago; the VIP program — Vocational Independence Program — was developed locally to support the transition. The programs typically enroll about 20 students per year; Dr. Whitney said East Penn currently has about five students participating. CLIU partners include Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and St. Luke's Health Network, and many participants gain positions within those hospital systems.
Dr. Whitney also said the CLIU renewed insurance brokerage and behavioral health service contracts and is conducting a continuing review of board policies; the policy work was described as language cleanup rather than substantive change. The report was informational; no East Penn board action was recorded on the CLIU items.