What is the Senior Community Service Program (SCSEP) and How Can It Help me?

1. What is the Senior Community Service Program (SCSEP) and How Can It Help me? Liz Needham Title V Project Coordinator NC Division of Aging and Adult Services

2. Did you know… • 60% of Americans age 55 to 64 are still working? Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics • In 2007-Q4, 499,000 Americans between the ages of 55 and 95 lost jobs Source: http://lehd.did.census.gov/led/index.php?AgeMenu=65-99&IFMenu=Agriculture

3. North Carolina Statistics • 2007 Total Employment • 522,639 (55-64 yr old) • 147,555 (65-99 yr old) • 670,194 Total (17% of the population) http://lehd.did.census.gov/led/datatools/qwiapp.html • 2009 Total Authorized SCSEP Positions • 1,514 (55-99 yr old)

4. What is SCSEP? • The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides subsidized, part-time, community service work based training for 100,000 low-income persons nationwide age 55 or older who have poor employment prospects. • The Department of Labor provides funding for 74 grantees in the United States. Grant awards are made to 18 national nonprofit organizations and 56 units of state and territorial governments. There are 3 national nonprofits in North Carolina.

5. National and State Grantees • National Grantees in North Carolina • Senior Service America, Inc (SSAI) – 665 positions in 48 counties • National Center and Caucus of Black Aged (NCBA) – 342 positions in 18 counties • National Council on Aging (NCOA) – 208 positions in 25 counties • State Grantees - $3M budget for 309 positions in 26 counties • Land-of Sky Regional Council • Isothermal Planning & Development Commission • Centralina Council of Governments • Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments • Lumber River Council of Governments

6. SCSEP History… • SCSEP was originally authorized in 1965 by the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA) A pilot project called Operation Mainstream was established to provide jobs for unemployed, poor adults in primarily rural areas. Older adults were one of the target groups being served. • Operation Mainstream’s older worker group was converted from a pilot project into a national, ongoing program when the 1973 Older AmericansComprehensive Service Amendments became law (Public Law 93-29). • It was officially designated as the Older American Act Community ServiceEmployment Act (Title IX of the 1973 Older Americans Comprehensive Services Amendments). • The 1978 Comprehensive Older Americans Act Amendments (Public Law 1978-478) re-designated the SCSEP as Title V of the Older Americans Act.

7. Workforce Partners • The WorkforceInvestment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-220) stated that SCSEP was to be one of the required partners in the workforce investment system. As a result, Congress amended the SCSEP to require greater coordination with the One-Stop Delivery System (JobLink Career Centers).

8. Priority of Service • Enrollment Priority is given to individuals that: • Are 65 years of age or older • Have a disability • Have limited English proficiency or low literacy skills • Reside in a rural area • Are veterans or qualified spouses of veterans • Have low employment prospects • Have failed to find employment after utilizing services with the One-Stop Delivery System • Are homeless or at risk of homelessness

9. 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 and fringe benefits • Annual physicals • Assistance in securing unsubsidized employment • Access to local One-Stop Career Centers

10. Community Service • The SCSEP program nationally provides over 40 million community service hours to public and non-profit agencies including day-care centers, senior centers, schools and hospitals. It is intended that these community service experiences serve as a bridge to other employment positions that are not supported with Federal funds.

11. Types of Training • Four types of training • Community Service Assignment • General Training • Specialized Training • On The Job Training (OJE)

12. Top Qualities of Older Workers • Superior work ethic • Loyalty to an employer • Maturity in the workplace • Flexible schedules • Eagerness to learn new technologies The years teach much which the days never knew.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

13. “If you believe and work hard, anything is possible…” Eddie Mitchell

14. State Report • Female = 75% • Male = 25% • Age at Enrollment • 55-59 = 36% • 60-64 = 29% • 65-69 = 22% • 70-74 = 11% • 75 and older = 3%

15. State Report • Minorities • Hispanic/Latino = 1% • American Indian = 6% • Asian = 1% • African American = 46% • Education • 8th grade and below = 4% • Some High School = 60% • Some College = 34% • Bachelor = 5% • Masters = 1%

16. State Report • Barriers to Employment • Family income at or above the poverty level = 78% • Residing in rural areas = 57% • Disabled = 16% • Low Literacy = 12% • Homeless or at risk = 10% • Displaced homemakers = 9% • Limited English Proficiency = 1%

17. State Report • Exits due to unsubsidized placement = 78 • Average Starting Wage = $8.02 • Recovery Act Funding = North Carolina received $3,048,450 for 323 additional positions.

18. Ways to Help… • Refer older adults to SCSEP Program • Become a Host Agency • Offer training for participants • Hire older workers

19. Contact: Liz Needham NC DHHS/DAAS 693 Palmer Drive Raleigh, NC 27699 (919) 733-8395 x225 liz.needham@dhhs.nc.gov http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/scsep.htm