Project SEARCH Winnipeg
An exciting new work-oriented transition program for high school students.

NEW Project SEARCH Winnipeg website with extensive information: check it out here!

https://projectsearchwinnipeg.ca/

Project SEARCH Information Sessions Monday October 18, 2021 (11am/1pm/6pm options), click here for more details!

Project SEARCH Winnipeg application deadline

for the 2022 - 2023 year is 

Friday, January 31, 2022    

Please contact Oly Backstrom obackstrom(at)lifeworks.mb.ca for more details. 

Project SEARCH Winnipeg is for high school students (labeled with an intellectual disability or autism) whose main goal is employment and will benefit from career exploration.  The cornerstone of this program is immersion into a large business or organization.  Students learn employability and job skills while participating in a variety of worksite rotations with the goal of competitive employment.   Work experience placements occur based on the student’s experiences, strengths and skills, as well as site host need.  Students are supported by a team including a certified Teacher and Skills Trainers.

Project SEARCH serves as a workforce alternative for students in their last year of high school, developing valued roles in professional settings.

We are excited to celebrate:

• Our upcoming tenth year at our original site, with Manitoba Hydro and the Government of Manitoba serving as co-site hosts. This is the first Project SEARCH site in Canada!
• HSC Winnipeg became our second site, effective September 2016! This site has its own dedicated team made of a teacher and skills trainers. This is the first hospital-based Project SEARCH in Canada!

What Project SEARCH looks like:

• Each day starts in a “classroom” (generously provided by Manitoba Hydro/HSC Winnipeg) where students learn employability skills.
• The bulk of the day is spent in worksite rotations developed throughout the sites (either at Manitoba Hydro/Government of Manitoba, or at HSC Winnipeg).
• Students end their day in the classroom, reflecting on the day, journaling their key learning, problem solving, and planning.
• Program duration: one school year (student’s last year of school)

Skills Trainers provide training to students for each work experience, while site supervisors and managers will provide natural supports. Students receive continual feedback from Project SEARCH staff, co-workers and supervisors. 

The ultimate goal is to support students to be successful in their post-graduation search for competitive employment, utilizing the skills learned on the work experiences and throughout the program (please note that the host businesses/organizations are under no obligation to hire students once they have completed their Project SEARCH year).

Possible worksite experiences may include:

• Clerical/Filing/Data Entry
• Distribution/Stocking  of supplies
• Training Material Preparation
• Groundskeeping
• Warehouse tasks (including picking & packing)
• Mail sorting/distribution
• Facilities support and maintenance
• Cleaning of medical equipment
• Hospital/examination room maintenance
• Dietary/food commissary tasks
• Cleaning/assembly of healthcare materials

For more information contact:

Oly Backstrom

President & CEO

SCE LifeWorks Inc.

227-530 Century Street

Winnipeg, MB

R3H 0Y4

obackstrom@lifeworks.mb.ca

204-775-9402, ext. 232

Thanks to The Winnipeg Foundation for their financial support of this endeavour.