This year, National Employ Older Workers Week takes place from September 18th to September 24th. National Employ Older Workers Week is a great opportunity to remind people that it is always a great time to hire an older worker!
National Employ Older Workers Week is held annually during the last full week of September. Its purpose is to recognize the vital role of older workers in the workforce and to increase awareness about how to tap into this experienced, workforce-ready talent pool. The 2022 NEOWW theme is “Employment is Ageless” to highlight how older workers continue to be mainstream innovators in the workforce at every stage of their careers.
Through the Kentucky Career Center, we can connect employers with the Senior Community Service Employment Program. The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a community service and work-based job training program for older Americans. Authorized by the Older Americans Act, the program provides training for low-income, unemployed seniors. Participants also have access to employment assistance through American Job Centers.
SCSEP participants gain work experience in a variety of community service activities at non-profit and public facilities, including schools, hospitals, day-care centers, and senior centers. The program provides over 40 million community service hours to public and non-profit agencies, allowing them to enhance and provide needed services. Participants work an average of 20 hours a week and are paid the highest of federal, state or local minimum wage. This training serves as a bridge to unsubsidized employment opportunities for participants.
Participants must be at least 55, unemployed, and have a family income of no more than 125% of the federal poverty level. Enrollment priority is given to veterans and qualified spouses, then to individuals who are over 65, have a disability, have low literacy skills or limited English proficiency, reside in a rural area, are homeless or at risk of homelessness, have low employment prospects, or have failed to find employment after using services through the American Job Center system.
Benefits for participants include:
- Earned income
- Training and experience to help develop employment skills
- Annual physical exams
- The chance to obtain full or part-time unsubsidized employment
- Meaningful social and physical activities
- Engagement in activities to support independence and provide satisfying personal results for older persons
To be eligible a person must be 55 or older and a Kentucky resident with an income at or less than 125 percent of the poverty level.
Interested individuals and employers who are interested in becoming a training site can contact their nearest SCSEP at:
Ashland Area:
Eddie Price
Eddie.Price@scacwv.org
606-922-6955
Maysville and Mt. Sterling Area:
Wendy Hayden
whayden@nkcac.org
859-655-2942
Morehead Area:
Donnie Wallen
dwallen@bsacap.org
606.789.6517
