Located in:
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
At minimum, in the SCSEP stand-alone submission and the SCSEP portion of the Combined State Plan, States should comprehensively cover the following elements.
- b. Service Delivery and Coordination
States must:
- 1. Provide a Description of Actions to Coordinate Scsep with Other Programs
This may alternatively be discussed in the State strategies section of the strategic plan, but regardless of placement in document, must include:
- 1. Provide a Description of Actions to Coordinate Scsep with Other Programs
- b. Service Delivery and Coordination
b. 1. B. Actions to Coordinate Activities of Scsep Grantees with the Activities to Be Carried Out in the State Under the Other Titles of the Oaa. (20 Cfr 641.302(h))
Current Narrative:
SCSEP participants have access to a wide array of programs and services. SCSEP programs are encouraged to establish strong linkages with the county department(s) of human services within their region. The program engages these departments as workforce partners to assist low–income individuals, including recipients of public assistance. However, the degree and nature of the relationship will ultimately be determined by the local elected officials and department directors in each county. Regions are encouraged to use the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program as hiring incentives to encourage employers to hire disadvantaged job seekers. Additionally, SCSEP participants 60 and older have the opportunity to participate in the services available through their local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) such as administrative assistants, food service, and environmental services. Colorado’s SCSEP participants are placed in community service agencies that include schools, health care, housing, workforce services, recreation, environmental quality, public works, and social services agencies. Likewise, essential and necessary community services are provided to the participants of SCSEP. The following is a list of services that are available to Colorado SCSEP participants:
1. Education/ESL/Tutoring/Libraries
2. Health Care/Hospitals
3. Recreation/Parks/Agriculture
4. Social Services/Welfare/Local Government
5. Economic Development/Counseling/Tax Service
6. Recreation/Senior Center Operations
7. Housing
8. Nutrition Programs
9. Transportation
10. Homemaker Services
11. Caregiver Services
12. Material Aide
13. Legal Assistance
14. Other Counseling Services
Many of the SCSEP participants placed in community programs provide services for the elderly. There is a significant need among agencies that provide various services to the elderly for trained workers. Increased placement and training expenditures per individual in these types of agencies would benefit senior service providers (e.g. adult day care, nutrition programs, and independent living centers), SCSEP participants, and SCSEP contractors. Ongoing training and the development of targeted services for older workers must continue in order to give SCSEP participants a competitive edge.
The SCSEP Administrator incorporates language in Requests for Proposals (RFP) to ensure services are provided to older adults in poverty. A sample of language commonly used in contracts is "in the delivery of services under this contract (provider) agrees to give preference and priority to older adults who meet the following criteria: are of a minority status or have a language barrier; are of low income; are homebound; live in a particularly remote area; and live alone or are frail due to health condition or disability." The State ensures that preference will be given to providing services that meet the target criteria through these efforts. Participants of SCSEP that qualify for the services provided through the Older Americans Act will be directed to agencies that provide those services.