Sedgwick County official highlights Project SEARCH internships as pathway to long-term jobs

A Sedgwick County official described the county's partnership with Wichita Public Schools to bring the Project SEARCH internship program to Sedgwick County in 2014 and said the program helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain job skills and employment.

The official said, "Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been a vital part of our community forever, but they're an under recognized resource for employees," and described the county's role in supporting placements and long-term employment outcomes.

County and program staff outlined how the internships work: "We have interns that work 3 different internships throughout the community," a presenter said, adding that students work in a wide variety of fields, gain job skills and learn which roles suit them best. The presenter said the rotating placements are intended to help interns explore different occupations while building practical experience.

A meeting participant who spoke about their own experience said, "It was a good experience. It really broadened my horizon," and added that the program improved their chances of obtaining paid work. The county speaker highlighted one example of long-term employment: "He started as a project search student in the print shop, and that just clicked so well. And now 8 years later, he's still there and doing a great job," the official said of Montez.

Program organizers and the participant framed the program as both a training pipeline and a chance to showcase participants' abilities to local employers. No formal vote or action was reported in the presentation; the session described program operations and outcomes rather than proposing new policy.

The presentation closed with the example of Montez as evidence the internships can lead to sustained employment; no additional funding decisions or next procedural steps were recorded in the transcript.