Employment Program Trains Older Adults for Workforce

The U.S. Department of Labor's Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) works with unemployed seniors to find meaningful employment and satisfaction for them in their communities, reports the Martinsburg Journal . SCSEP Director Stacey Heavner described the initiative as "a short-term, work-training program to prepare participants for unsubsidized employment off of the program." She explains that SCSEP applicants must be American citizens, 55 years or older, and with an income at or below 125 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Program participants receive a minimum wage for a minimum of 15 hours a week, as well as on-the-job training to update or gain new skills. "The early emphasis of the national program was to supplement participants' incomes," Heavner said. "Currently, there is a dual focus on unsubsidized employment and community service."