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 the American Job Centers.
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.
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.