Children’s Mercy on behalf of Project RISE received a one-year grant from the Ronald D. Deffenbaugh Foundation for the project “Pioneers in Pediatric Care – Project RISE”.

Project RISE is a premier program at Children’s Mercy, creating meaningful employment opportunities and volunteer experiences for people with disabilities, many of whom are former Children’s Mercy patients. The program assists participants with transitions to adulthood, including connection with community agencies that provide support for college, vocational training, or job search. Participants with disabilities or chronic health conditions may receive assistance from Project RISE staff with resume preparation, interview practice, and skills to complete a job application. This is done either one-on-one or within a group setting in the organization’s Career Academy courses.

Project RISE is a host site for Project SEARCH, an intensive year-long program for area high school students with disabilities. Students participate in classroom activities and internship rotations in three different hospital departments. They are supervised by school district staff members and the individual departments where they are assigned.

The money from this grant goes toward the team creating their own paid internship program for people with disabilities or chronic health conditions who are 16 years of age and older.

Interns gain hands-on experience in areas of healthcare that most closely match their interests, as well as group and individual instruction on job skills.

A group has already taken part in the summer internship program and some had the following things to say about their experience:

“The skills I have learned from this internship have been learning how to go more with the flow and that it is okay when plans change or don’t go as planned. I’ve learned new/improved social and development skills. Independently completed project, more confidence in my direction, new connections, and overall learning new skills and knowledge.”

“The internship really opened my eyes and helped me gain so many new skills that I didn’t have before, giving me real-life, hands-on experience.”

In addition to internship experiences, the team will use the funding to a host a half-day conference that focuses on career options and transition to college for people disabilities and chronic health conditions.

“Our ultimate objective is for interns to experience important and meaningful early work experiences,” said Amy Mesplay, Project RISE Manager. “We will know this project is successful when interns demonstrate marketable skills to be successful in a part-time or full-time employment opportunity either at Children’s Mercy Hospital or another employer.”