Vocational / Educational Services
The purpose of Vocational / Educational Services from Project SEARCH at Cincinnati Children's is to work with youth, ages 16 and older, with:
- Chronic illnesses
- Traumatic injuries
- Rehabilitation issues
- Other disabilities
Based on these needs, a plan that addresses their vocational, educational, training and employment goals is generated. The program is individualized to meet the specific needs of clients and may include services such as:
- Coordination of GED programs
- Researching appropriate career and technical or college choices
- Encouraging the adoption of appropriate assistive technologies in schools
The process that we use for plan development includes:
- A family interview to determine vocational interests, abilities, aptitudes, and needs
- Coordination of evaluations to provide information related to individual career goals
- Provision of eligibility and referral services to community service agencies, including state and community rehabilitation services, as needed
- Development of the vocational components of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for school-aged individuals
- Coordination of services and information exchange between the school, the medical team, and other service providers
- Provision of long-term follow-up and support, especially during key transition times and after high school / employment (when appropriate)
Eligibility
Vocational / Educational Services from Project SEARCH has these eligibility criteria:
- Age 16 years or older (with focus on last two years of high school)
- Must have a chronic illness or disability
- Referred by a Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center treatment team member
