Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
Senior Employment Program
SCSEP is a federally-funded, work-based training program providing economically disadvantaged older persons the opportunity to gain key work skills necessary for viable employment.
This wage subsidy program provides skills training through part-time employment of individuals, 55 years of age and older, who are unemployed and low income.
Non-profit and government agencies provide the training and benefit from increased workforce with subsidized salaries.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is locally sponsored by Community Action Agency of Siouxland. Funding comes from Senior Service America, Inc. (SSAI), headquartered
in Silver Spring, Maryland. SSAI is a non-profit organization that provides civic engagement and employment opportunities for adults over the age of 55. SSAI administers the SCSEP on behalf
of the U.S. Department of Labor.
SCSEP serves low-income unemployed persons who are 55 years of age and older, by training them in part-time community service assignments and by assisting them with developing skills and
experience to facilitate their transition to unsubsidized employment. The program is designed to accomplish the following objectives:
• Provide useful part-time community service training
opportunities for economically disadvantaged persons who are 55 years of age or older and who may have poor employment prospects
• Enhance the abilities, skills and aptitudes of participants
to increase their opportunities to obtain mainstream employment and foster individual economic self-sufficiency
• Change negative attitudes and stereotypes about older workers through
demonstrated success.
Once desired skills are acquired, SCSEP participants are assisted with securing regular, unsubsidized employment.
HOST AGENCIES:
• When possible, consider participants for employment in open positions for which they qualify. Also help participants by referring them to positions they know are available in the community
and by providing references.
• Provide additional support to SCSEP by promoting the program with peers and employers in the community, co-sponsoring special events, or providing in-kind or direct support to the program.
Eligibility requirements: (1) age 55 and over; (2) unemployed; (3) household income under 125% of federal poverty level {some types of income excludable in calculation}, be a current resident
of Cherokee, Ida, Buena Vista, Lyon, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury counties in Iowa.
For more information, please contact Tammy Herbert: SCSEP Director at (712) 274-1610 ext. 212 or Dennis Pastian SCSEP Assistant at (712) 274-1610 ext. 235, or 1-800-325-3225,
or email therbert@caasiouxland.org or SCSEP@caasiouxland.org.