School to Work

Project SEARCH

Hope Network is proud to offer the first Project SEARCH High School Transition program site in Michigan located in Kent County.  We have partnered with Fifth Third Bank and Grand Rapids Public Schools to bring this cutting-edge program to our community. 

Project SEARCH is a unique collaboration between agency, host business (Fifth Third Bank) and school (GRPS) that allows students with special needs, in their final year of high school, to participate in a variety of internships within the host business.

Through participation in these internships and classroom-based experiences, the students gain valuable skills that lead to competitive employment, either at the host business, or in a related position elsewhere. 

This unique, business-driven training model began at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. It was created by the ER charge nurse, Erin Riehle, who felt strongly that a business earning the majority of its revenue from individuals with disabilities should also employ them. Ms. Riehle also believed that individuals with disabilities could perform, and perform well, in a variety of complex but systematic jobs, and Project SEARCH was born.  

Project SEARCH has been nationally recognized for its success in preparing students for competitive, community-based employment.  In the future, we anticipate this program will expand to include Kent County post-secondary individuals in the future, as well.

Hope Network, with support from Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and along with our partners at Grand Rapids Public Schools and Fifth Third Bank, is pleased to offer such a cutting-edge program to Kent County!


Feel free to Contact Us with any questions you may have about our programs or services.