MANSFIELD, Ohio–OhioHealth MedCentral has received the Champion of Opportunity Award for serving as a statewide example of what it means to provide quality employment opportunities and increased independence for individuals with disabilities.
This annual award is presented by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). MedCentral was one of four agencies chosen as a Champion of Opportunity Award recipient for year 2014. Other award winners include Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati, Giant Eagle in central Ohio and InfoCision in Akron.
“OhioHealth hospitals, including MedCentral, have built a culture of inclusion and opportunity,” said OOD Executive Director Kevin L. Miller in a press release. “They understand that this commitment strengthens their workforce, aligns with their core values, and has a positive impact on the community.”
“It is an honor to be recognized as a Champion of Opportunity,” President of OhioHealth MedCentral Jean Halpin said in a press release. “We recognize that individuals with disabilities also have abilities, and we welcome them as care site associates.”
MedCentral takes part in the Project SEARCH program, a collaborative partnership with Pioneer Career and Technology Center, Richland Newhope, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, North Central State College and The Ohio State University at Mansfield.
This one-year program allows people to participate in three 10-week internships at such organizations as North Central State College, OSU-Mansfield or MedCentral.
MedCental has been involved in Project SEARCH for the past nine years. And during those nine years, the health system has had 99 participants in the program.
Project SEARCH participants work in various capacities (cafeteria, housekeeping, tray service, washer operator, etc.) throughout the health system from September through May to gain work experience and educational opportunities in preparation for competitive employment.
Some participants eventually become full or part-time employees. Others may find employment elsewhere after participating in the program.
“The Project SEARCH coaches have been phenomenal to work with,” said Tom Fesler, director of environmental services at MedCentral. “They work so hard with the students to make the program successful.”
Fesler said it’s rewarding to watch participants become employed at their facility. “We’ve been able to hire some of the Project SEARCH interns, and they’ve been working as washer operators, they do the processing of our linen and they also help with delivery of linen. They are also work in environmental services taking care of our outbuildings that we own,” he said.
“Once they’re hired in, they’re trained and then they just do the normal jobs that all of the other associates do,” he said, adding, “They’re always very good candidates.”
Some of the employees are celebrating their fifth year at MedCentral, he said.
John Dickman, a Pioneer student who’s involved in the Project SEARCH program at MedCentral, aspires to work at MedCentral as a full-time employee.
He has worked in environmental services and outpatient surgical services and he recently began working in the dish room. Though he’s only been working in the dish room for about two weeks, he said he loves it.
“The people here are super friendly,” he said.
Sam Starr, another Pioneer student who’s part of Project SEARCH at MedCentral, said he’s enjoyed working in outpatient surgical services and linen services.
His experience, he said, has helped him learn how to pace himself and how to organize. From working in linen services, “I’ve also learned how to fold clothes differently,” he said.
If not hired to work at MedCentral, which he hopes won’t be the case, he said he might pursue a job in graphic design.