Program Description: The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a community service and work based training program for older workers. Authorized by the Older Americans Act, the program provides subsidized, service-based training for low-income persons 55 or older who are unemployed and have poor employment prospects. Participants have access to both SCSEP services and other employment assistance through One-Stop Career Centers.
Program Overview: The program has two purposes: to provide useful community services and to foster individual economic self-sufficiency through training and job placement in unsubsidized jobs. Services provided include:
- up to 20 hours a week of part-time employment in community service assignments
- job training and related educational opportunities
- opportunities for placement into unsubsidized jobs
Community service assignments include the following activities:
- social, health, welfare, and educational services (particularly literacy tutoring)
- personal assistance, including tax counseling and assistance and financial counseling
- library, recreational, and other similar services
- conservation, maintenance, or restoration of natural resources
- community betterment or beautification
- anti-pollution and environmental quality efforts
- weatherization activities
- economic development; and
- such other services essential and necessary to the community as the Secretary of the Department of Labor, by regulation, may prescribe.
Goal: SCSEP provides both community services and work-based training. Participants work an average of 20 hours a week, and are paid the highest of federal, state or local minimum wage. They are placed in a wide variety of community service activities at non-profit and public facilities, including day-care centers, senior centers, schools and hospitals. It is intended that community service training serves as a bridge to unsubsidized employment opportunities; SCSEP’s goal is to place 30% of its authorized positions into unsubsidized employment annually.
Available Services: Services available through the SCSEP program for assisting older workers are:
Community Services – the program provides over 40 million community service hours to public and non-profit agencies, allowing them to enhance and provide needed services
Participant Services – Individual Employment Plan (IEP) development, orientation, community service placement, training specific to community service assignment, other training as identified in the IEP, supportive services, wages, fringe benefits, annual physicals, assistance in securing unsubsidized employment, and access to local One-Stop Career Centers.
Eligible Participants: Eligible Participants: Program participants must be at least 55, unemployed, and have a family income of no more than 125% of the federal poverty level.
For Further Information regarding SCSEP/SSAI programs in your area visit:
http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/html_docs/AboutSCSEP.cfm
http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/scsep/seniorcomm.shtml
http://www.seniorserviceamerica.org/our-programs/the-senior-community-service-employment-program/
Click here to locate a SCSEP program near you
For Service Area:
Chester County
Hardeman County
Hardin County
McNairy County
Contact:
Ophelia Parks
SCSEP Coordinator
P.O. Box 264
Henderson, TN 38340
Phone: 731-983-3703
Fax: 731-983-3149
Email: oparks@swhra.org
For Service Area:
Decatur County
Hardin County
Henderson County
Madison County
Contact:
Betsy Riley
SCSEP Coordinator
P.O. Box 264
Henderson, TN 38340
Phone: 731-983-3689
Cell: 731-435-0109
Fax: 731-983-3149
Email: betsy.riley@swhra.org