Located in:
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
(OMB Control No. 1205-0040)
b. 1. B. Planned actions to coordinate activities of SCSEP grantees with the activities being carried out in the State under the other titles of the Older Americans Act (OAA). (20 CFR 641.302(h))
Current Narrative:
SCSEP participants have access to a wide array of programs and services for both employment possibilities and their own personal needs. The State of Colorado continues to encourage the SCSEP program 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. The State will better educate the counties on SCSEP to ensure an understanding that public assistance benefits do not disqualify participants from the program. Regions are still being encouraged to use the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program as hiring incentives to encourage employers to hire disadvantaged job seekers. Colorado’s SCSEP participants will continue to be 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:
- Education/ESL/Tutoring/Libraries
- Health Care/Hospitals
- Recreation/Parks/Agriculture
- Social Services/Welfare/Local Government
- Economic Development/Counseling/Tax Service
- Recreation/Senior Center Operations
- Housing
- Nutrition Programs
- Transportation
- Homemaker Services
- Caregiver Services
- Material Aide
- Legal Assistance
- Other Counseling Services
SCSEP participants 60 and older are eligible to receive the services available through their local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Collaboration will continue between the State and the local AAAs, allowing SCSEP participants to also have employment opportunities within the agencies, such as administrative assistance, food service and preparation, and customer service. The State of Colorado will ensure that the AAAs maintain an understanding of the SCSEP program, especially in the regions where SCSEP alloted positions are prominent. Many of the SCSEP participants placed in community programs provide services for the elderly. In addition to AAAs, there is a significant need among other agencies providing 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; 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 will continue to ensure 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.