Forrest General Hospital is proud to welcome eight Project SEARCH Class of 2023 students to its campus.
This year’s students include:
- Petal School District: Draven DuBois, Gabe Jones, Isaiah Rawls, Noel Trussell, Andrea Hilbun
- Hattiesburg Public School District: Tyrrance Sanders, Scott Klauk,
- Innova Prep: Gabbie Holm
The program, which was started by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, is designed to help students with intellectual disabilities move into the workforce after high school. This is the fourth class Forrest General has hosted. Students in this year’s class were interviewed at the end of the previous school year.
“We have learned how to maneuver about the halls, cafeteria, bathrooms, and recently completed hospital orientation and onboarding activities (gloves, masks, hand washing, public safety, HR, Corp Compliance),” said Heather Reid, Project SEARCH instructor. “We are learning how to use our badges to clock in and out each day using a system in the classroom called Time Station.” Students also learn business etiquette, proper interview skills and presenting themselves.
Students, dressed in khaki pants and Project SEARCH green polo shirts, started the first of three 12-week rotations in August. Based on a student’s plans for the future, they are matched with departments best suited to help them meet their goals. There they work with a mentor who teaches them the ins and outs of a real job, whether patient transport, copying and shredding, washing dishes, and preparing or cleaning for patients. At the same time, they are making new friendships with fellow classmates and hospital personnel while also making patients happy.
Currently, students are working in Food & Nutrition (food prep and cleaning cafeteria tables), Same Day Surgery, Patient Transport, Radiology, Pharmacy, HIM, and Dialysis, which is new this year.
“This is our fourth year and fourth group of interns who have been a part of Project SEARCH at Forrest General,” said Reid. “Each group has been more different than the last. This group is coming in with high expectations and some previous work experiences that we can’t wait to expand on and watch them thrive and succeed. They know they have big shoes to fill from the previous group, and they are ready for the challenge.”
For more information about Project SEARCH, visit the Forrest General Project Search Facebook page.
