SENIOR
COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
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The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
provides training and employment and job placement services to low-income,
older Alaskans. An innovative and cost-effective federal program, SCSEP
enables Alaskans aged 55+ to be economically productive through contributing
their talent and services to their communities while earning a modest
income. Participating seniors find fulfillment, add to their skills, and
train for further employment.
SCSEP is our nation’s oldest employment, training, and
community service program for disadvantaged mature Americans. During FY00
Alaska’s SCSEP program contributed
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Ted Cadiz, SCSEP Buildings and Grounds
Aide, tends the begonias at the Anchorage Senior Center. (Photo
by Faye Robb.)
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an estimated 203,000 hours of valuable
community service while working with more than 45 nonprofit and public organizations.
During FY 00 the program employed 304 low-income Alaskan seniors.
SCSEP is designed
to accomplish these four objectives:
- Foster and promote useful part-time
community service opportunities for economically disadvantaged Alaskans aged
55+.
- Enhance participants’ employment
abilities, skills, and aptitudes to increase their opportunities to obtain
jobs offering improved income and benefits.
- Change negative attitudes and
stereotypes about older individuals through public education and demonstrated
success.
- Conduct projects that promote
innovative work alternatives, second career training, and the placement of
enrollees into unsubsidized employment.
SCSEP participants
find fulfillment in community service assignments by helping others and contributing
to their communities. They often experience improved attitudes and health, which
in turn reinforce a personal sense of independence and dignity.
The ACoA awards
grants to public and non-profit agencies to provide on-the-job training so that
the participants can gain the job skills and experience necessary to move into
unsubsidized employment. These participants receive modest wages and benefits
through Commission grants. This income augments other limited income, such as
Social Security. For participants, SCSEP can cover the cost of supportive expenses,
such as appropriate clothing for job interviews and jobs, eye examinations,
and senior benefits counseling. Participants may attend classroom training to
build employment skills or to provide skills essential for their community service
assignment.
The program currently
has over 200 positions throughout the state. This number is expected to increase
as more seniors are enrolled in the program. The Commission expects to develop
special grants to offer the program in private settings as well.
Workforce Investment
Act (WIA)
With the implementation
of the United States Department of Labor’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA),
the Senior Community Service Employment Program has become more visible in the
employment and training community. The SCSEP is an active partner in the Alaska
Job Center Network. Partners are working toward common job applications and
orientations, and non-duplication of services. A goal of the WIA is to provide
seamless services to both job seekers and employers.
Older Worker
Specialist (OWS) Programs
Senior Community
Service Employment Program funds grants to four Older Worker Specialist programs.
These are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and the Mat-Su Valley. These
programs offer a full range of job search assistance and support to older job
seekers. These programs provide ongoing assistance to all Senior Community Service
Employment Program enrollees in these communities as well as to other older
job seekers. The OWS program will expand to all of Southeast Alaska in FY01.
The intent is to
have SCSEP services available in the Alaska Job Centers statewide. To accomplish
this, SCSEP enrollees are placed in the job centers to provide peer counseling
to seniors seeking employment and to assist in identifying potential SCSEP participants.
Senior Community
Service Employment Program Client Profile for FY00:
- 24% had not completed high school
- 33% were minority
- 20% were veterans
- 9% were disabled
- 26% moved from subsidized to
unsubsidized employment
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Section: Long-Term Care Ombudsman
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