Program Spotlight: Project SEARCH

In partnership with Boca West Country Club, Unicorn Children's Foundation launched Project SEARCH, a job training internship for young adults with disabilities. Project SEARCH offers a unique pre-employment training model that is a business led, one year school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Project SEARCH's primary objective is to secure competitive employment for people with disabilities. Once life gets "back to normal," we will be hosting a Family Information Night for Project SEARCH in our Unicorn Connection Center. Stay tuned for more details. Apply here : https://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/search.html

CEOs finally get it. Staff on the autism spectrum are a huge asset

"Despite all these efforts to raise awareness around neurodiverse hiring, the global unemployment rate for people on the autism spectrum remains at around 80 per cent."

Through programs including Unicorn Village Academy, Project SEARCH, and the upcoming Special Percs Cafe, Unicorn Children's Foundation is striving to put as many individuals with special needs into the workforce as possible.

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/companies-employing-autistic-individuals?fbclid=IwAR1n68_0v1kiOjmjFf0K86ms4a0XEcQSw9WUxa7Fwsto-NP9G3yzm76-TeE

Last Call for Project SEARCH Applicants!!!

If you know of an individual with intellectual or developmental disabilities between the ages of 18 and 26 who is interested in obtaining competitive and marketable skills for a career, please share this information about our Project SEARCH program and have them apply for the second class of interns at Boca West Country Club by THIS Friday, April 12, 2019.

https://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/uploads/1/0/8/1/108108451/student_application_2018-2019.pdf

Project SEARCH Featured in Boca Newspaper

Thank you to the Boca Newspaper for featuring an update on Project SEARCH!

#NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth

http://bocanewspaper.com/biz-briefs-29-26529

Thank You Boca West Country Club!

A chance.

That's what young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities want. An opportunity to show their value in the workforce. Now, through Project SEARCH, a partnership between Unicorn Children's Foundation and Boca West Country Club, adults ages 18 - 24 will get that chance.

First Day of Project SEARCH!

For some, it is back to school. For others, it is the first day of internships at Boca West Country Club Project SEARCH. After 2 years of planning, it was so fulfilling to experience this moment. We could not be more proud of our growing family of Unicorns and the expansion of programs that will lead to meaningful engagement in the community! Thank you to Matthew Linderman and his team for being so welcoming and supportive! You are truly changing lives!

Did You Know...

15 different job sites were part of Unicorn Village Academy​'s vocational training this year!

Priority 1 Signs, JCC Resale Boutique, Simply Yoga, JCC Gym, Broward Library, Helping Hands, Regents Park, UVA, Artists with Autism, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Pepperoni Grill, Olive Garden, Baja Cantina

Project SEARCH Application Now Online!

In partnership with Boca West Country Club, Unicorn Children’s Foundation and Unicorn Village Academy will launch a job training internship program for young adults with disabilities in August of 2018. Interns will range in age from 17-24 years of age who have an intellectual or developmental disability which makes it statistically more difficult for them to find jobs upon completion of high school. The unemployment rate for youth with disabilities is approximately 80% despite their ability and willingness to work. With the launch of the Project SEARCH site at Boca West Country Club, it is expected that at least 74% of interns will find competitive and meaningful employment following graduation.

Students should currently be enrolled in a Palm Beach County, Broward County or other private school and be interested in increasing independence, confidence and self-esteem while learning competitive, transferable, and marketable job skills. For more information, visit http://UnicornChildrensFoundation.org/Search

Project SEARCH Information Night

Project SEARCH Information Night was held last night at Unicorn Village Academy!

Boca West Country Club has entered into an agreement with The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. to launch a job training internship program for young adults with disabilities in August of 2018. Interns will range in age from 17-24 years of age who have an intellectual or developmental disability which makes it statistically more difficult for them to find jobs upon completion of high school. The unemployment rate for youth with disabilities is approximately 80% despite their ability and willingness to work. With the launch of the Project SEARCH site at Boca West Country Club, it is expected that at least 74% of interns will find competitive and meaningful employment following graduation.