Under the SCSEP program participants are productive and independent, earning as they're learning
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is looking to create more jobs for low income older workers in several states, thanks to $6.9 million in stimulus funding from the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) under the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
The funds were awarded to NCOA as part of the American Recovery and Investment Act, because of its decades of successfully training people age 55 and over for community service work under the SCSEP program.
"These challenging economic times require aggressive action and the SCSEP stimulus funding allows NCOA to galvanize our employment program," said Workforce Development Vice President Sandra Nathan. "We are very grateful for and excited about this opportunity to help older adults keep their dignity, get a job and get a paycheck."
The unemployment rate for older people has surged, according to a March 2009 Urban Institute Report, a challenging reality for boomers and seniors who face the intractable challenge of less time to keep their lives intact, as their resources decline.
Under the DOL grant, NCOA will train at least 590 low income older adults (based on an income that is 125% of the federal poverty level) in the SCSEP program.
In Reno, the AARP Foundation is also bracing for a slew of new applicants. The Foundation, the charitable arm of SCSEP, is funded in part under the Older Americans Act with support from AARP.
According to Tom Booth, Reno Project Director, AARP Foundation, lowerincome enrollees receive job training and job referrals they need to rejoin the workforce. “The economic stimulus money enables us to help more people get on their feet financially while seeking a job during this economic downturn.”
Older adults who want to know if they qualify for the program can call the AARP office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at (775) 323-2243.
The Reno office also offers WorkSearch, a customized online system that helps qualified individuals who are 40 and over to assess their skills, hobbies and interests, match those to innovative job opportunities and then link to current job openings offered through online job boards.