Project SEARCH grads pose with Mercy Health staff Brad Soles and Brooke Martinez. CONTRIBUTED
Mercy Health — Urbana’s first program to help prepare students with disabilities for life after school saw its first graduating class, and its Springfield students graduated, too.
This was the first year of the LIFE Transitions partnership with the Madison-Champaign County Educational Service Center with interns working in the hospital for a hands-on learning experience, similar to the Springfield hospital’s Project SEARCH.
The LIFE Transitions program works to help participants build independence, job readiness skills and confidence through real work in a hospital setting, spending several days each week working with staff mentors in various departments.
“This program is about giving interns the opportunity to learn by doing,” said Brooke Martinez, director of volunteer and auxiliary services for Mercy Health – Springfield in a release. “Seeing our first group complete the program and the growth they’ve shown has been incredibly rewarding.”
Each intern did two different rotations throughout the year in areas like nutrition services, environmental services, linen, registration, the lab and waste management, Martinez said previously. The rotations are selected based on the intern’s interests and skills.
The LIFE program is for students ages 16 to 21, said Molly Schmidt, Madison-Champaign ESC LIFE transition instructor previously. The students typically stay for two years but this can change depending on their individual needs.
These students had an end of the year celebration and Katie Brazille was selected mentor of the year. Nutrition Services were recognized as department of the year for their guidance and support.
The 2025 Project SEARCH students in Springfield were also recognized. The program is nationally recognized and Mercy Health partners with several organizations to offer it, including the Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, United Rehab Services and Developmental Disabilities of Clark County.
Five interns received their diplomas for completing the program in which they rotated through various hospital departments, gained practice job skills, interview experience and confidence. Many graduates become employed within their first year.
“Both of these programs reflect our commitment to supporting interns and strengthening our local workforce,” Martinez said. “By connecting education with real-world experience, we’re helping set these interns up for long-term success.”
The first round of Project LIFE interns graduated this year. CONTRIBUTED
