Located in:
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
(OMB Control No. 1205-0040)
b. 5. The State’s long-term strategy to improve SCSEP services, including planned long-term changes to the design of the program within the State, and planned changes in the use of SCSEP grantees and program operators to better achieve the goals of the program. This may include recommendations to the Department as appropriate. (20 CFR 641.302(k))
Current Narrative:
RI SCSEP has been successful for many years in providing work experience, supportive services, and job search assistance to Older Workers, and in assigning productive trainees to community service agencies. The Program has helped senior Rhode Islanders become job-ready in this present environment and to reenter the workforce - while providing employers with trained and dedicated individuals. The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training serves three counties. The distribution of authorizations is based on the Equitable Distribution as provided by U.S. DOL, which identifies each County’s percentage of the state’s program-eligible population. The Program Year 2021 grant funds 45 authorizations and 28 modified positions across the state, according to the following allocations: Bristol County – 4 slots; Kent County –5 slots; Providence County – 19 slots.
Since 2017, RI SCSEP has been operated by the Rhode Island Department and Labor and Training. SCSEP has been administered by RIDLT through the Chief of Labor and Training Operations overseeing the program in its entirety with a Coordinator of Employment and Training Programs overseeing the day-to-day operations. In addition, RIDLT has an Assistant Coordinator assigned to SCSEP to assist the Coordinator in overseeing the SCSEP Counselors assigned to work with participants. This change in program operator has allowed RI SCSEP to focus on building stronger partnerships with Job partners as SCSEP staff are co-located in the Job Centers. Participants will be able to access Job Center partner programs like Wagner-Peyser and WIOA through their SCSEP counselor, as well as the Department’s comprehensive approach to supportive services. Due to this change in program operator, the RI SCSEP program was redesigned to operate more efficiently to achieve higher performance measures than previous years with a goal of participants obtaining unsubsidized employment in a shorter time than previous program years. RI SCSEP would recommend that U.S. DOL continue to increase nationwide outreach so that employers become more aware of SCSEP and its job-ready participants