GCDD's Individual and Family Supports Director Attends the Project Search International Conference

A strong delegation from Georgia attended the Project Search International Conference in Austin, TX on July 24-27.

During the awards ceremony Tuesday night, Georgia received six awards.  Awards were given for the percentage of student interns who were employed after completing their year of training through the Project Search program.
The first winner with 60% hired was the program at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, GA.  Validia Gibson, the instructor accepted the award.  The next winner with 70% employment was Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, GA.  Karen Hutchinson, the instructor accepted the award.  For 80% employment, the Project Search program at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, GA won the award.  Emily Myers from Briggs and Associates received the award.  Candler Hospital in Savannah, GA was a 90% employment award winner.  Cindy Burns from Coastal Community Developmental Services accepted the award.  There were two 100% winners from Georgia. North Fulton Hospital and Northeast Georgia Medical Center both had all their student interns employed which is the goal for every Project Search program. Emily Myers from Briggs and Associates accepted the North Fulton award and Colleen Pirkle, the instructor accepted the Northeast GA Medical Center award.

There were great learning opportunities throughout the conference.  It was great to have five business liaisons with our group including Lewis Likens and Raleigh McGarity from Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Christy Sparks from Shaw Industries, Jackie Lee Adams from Effingham Hospital and Judy Boykin from Candler Hospital.  Kim Chester, one of the GCDD council members attended and is going to work to help bring Project Search to Bartow County.

There are 202 Project Search programs in 40 states and 4 countries including Canada, England, Scotland and Australia.  There was a person from New Zealand who attended the conference and is hoping to start project search there.

To learn more about Project SEARCH, click here.

- Dottie Adams, GCDD Individual and Family Supports Director