LMHS Honored with Corporate Citizenship Vanguard Award for Involvement with Project SEARCH Program
Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) recently received the 2019 Columbus Business First Vanguard Award for their involvement with the Project SEARCH program. The Corporate Citizenship Award honors companies who are innovating with nonprofit partners to find creative solutions to the region’s critical needs.
For the past three years, LMHS has hosted Project SEARCH for Licking County high school seniors who have achieved the requirements for graduation. The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program provides real-life work experience, combined with training in employability and independent living skills, to help youth with disabilities make successful transitions from school to adult life. LMHS collaborates with the Licking County Educational Service Center, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Greenleaf Job Training Services, the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and area school districts to offer the Project SEARCH program locally.
LMHS’ vision for Project SEARCH is to provide students with the opportunity to learn the skills needed not only to obtain a job, but ultimately to embark on a meaningful and long-lasting career. By preparing them to enter the local work force, area businesses also will benefit by having an expanded pool of qualified candidates from which to hire. As one of Licking County’s largest employers, LMHS certainly has been positively impacted by this program and believes it will be a tremendous benefit to the entire community for many years to come. The long-term goal of Project SEARCH is to provide a set of transferable skills to people with disabilities, which will result in a diverse group of motivated job seekers for employers throughout Licking County.