A group of Forest Lake students will have a new opportunity for job training and internships next year at the Minnesota State Capitol. Project SEARCH, a vocational education program for developmentally disabled students of Forest Lake Area Schools, is partnering with the governor’s office to provide internships at the capitol. These new opportunities will be in addition to Forest Lake’s ongoing Project SEARCH site at Fairview Lakes Medical Center.
Through Project SEARCH at the capitol, students will have the opportunity to learn jobs in a variety of specialties, including clerical, buildings and grounds, recordkeeping, mailroom, and nutrition services. Students in past Project SEARCH programs through Forest Lake Area Schools have shown success in transitioning from internship to regular employment after they finish their program.
In order to qualify for Project SEARCH, a student must be 18 to 21 years old and have developmental or cognitive disabilities, or be on the autism spectrum. Students who are not currently enrolled in Forest Lake Area Schools are also welcome to apply. For more information, contact Lesa Genovese by phone at 651-982-7109 or by email at lgenovese@flaschools.org.