SHP
CCP
SCSEP
CSP |
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SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
Program history, objectives and philosophy
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) - now Title V of the Older Americans Act - evolved from Operation Mainstream, a pilot established in 1965 under Title II of the Economic Opportunity Act. It was in 1978 that the Comprehensive Older Americans Act Amendments redesigned the SCSEP as Title V of the Older Americans Act.
Throughout its history, SCSEP has served some of the most disadvantaged persons in our entire society, particularly those with poverty incomes, limited educational attainment, limited barriers and minorities. The U.S. Department of Labor administers the funds of this national project.
The goals of the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) Senior Community Service Employment Program are to locate suitable host agencies and work sites; to recruit low-income older persons; provide employment counseling, training and support services; and to help place the workers in suitable, permanent unsubsidized employment.
How the program works
In order to qualify for participation in NAPCA-SCSEP, the enrollee must be 55 years of age or older, have an income which is at 125% or below the established poverty level, and must be a U.S. citizen, legal resident, or be eligible to work in the US according to Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. If the applicant meets these requirements, a physical examination is provided as a free service to the senior . The exam assists NAPCA in placing the enrollee at a suitable work site, and in determining if he/she is physically able to work.
NAPCA-SCSEP enrollees are placed at Host Agencies that provide the older worker with an opportunity to gain employment training, while at the same time assisting in meaningful community work. A host agency is a public or private non-profit organization that provides community services with a 501(c)(3) designation form the Internal Revenue Service. These agencies may deal with quality of life issues ranging from health, nutrition, transportation, and housing to educational and legal issues. Other host agencies involved are public organizations such as federal, state, and city office/ government agencies.
Enrollees can be assigned 20 hours per work at the Host Agency but cannot exceed 1300 hours each fiscal year. The compensation paid is either the state or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher. NAPCA pays the enrollees’ wages, the employer’s share of FICA, unemployment and workman’s compensation from funds allocated by Department of Labor. Sick leave is also allocated at 4 hours for every 80 hours worked.
Unsubsidized placement
NAPCA is required by the Department of Labor to place 20% of SCSEP enrollees into unsubsidized permanent employment. The host agency is urged to hire the enrollees or at least to assist them in attaining other permanent, unsubsidized employment. This partnership between the host agency and NAPCA helps the enrollee to move to unsubsidized employment and allows other low income seniors to enter the program and develop their skills.
The objectives of this project are:
1. Provide job placement for low-income Asian seniors 55 years and over & legal residents of the U.S.
2. Provide English and computer classes to equip program participants with the skills to work in modern English-speaking environments.
3. With a 20-hour per week on the job training with minimum wage, enrollees have the opportunity to transform their former job skills to become marketable ones. |
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