Senior Community Service Employment Program (17.235)
Program
17.235 Senior Community Service Employment Program
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Labor
Office: Employment Training Administration
Authorization
Older Americans Act of 2006, Title V, Public Law 109-365, 120 Stat. 2522, 42 U.S.C 3001; Older Americans Act of 1965; The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Title VIII, Public Law 111-5.
Program Number
17.235
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To foster individual economic self sufficiency; provide training in meaningful part-time opportunities in community service activities for unemployed low-income persons who are age 55 years of age or older, particularly persons who have poor employment prospects; and to increase the number of older persons who may enjoy the benefits of unsubsidized employment in both the public and private sectors.
Types of Assistance
FORMULA GRANTS; PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions
Organizations that receive grants use the funds to create and pay for part-time community service training positions for persons age 55 and above whose income is at or below 125 percent of the poverty level. The individuals who are enrolled may be trained in work assignments at local 501(c)(3) non-profit or government agencies. A portion of the funds may be used to provide participants with classroom training and supportive services. Participants may not train in projects involving political activities, sectarian activities, nor may participants displace any employed worker or perform work which impairs existing contracts for service. Each local project is required to coordinate its activities with local Workforce Investment Act projects and One-Stop Career Centers and the State Office of the Aging. Seventy-five percent of funding must be used to pay the wages and fringe benefits of participants for their part-time assignments. The remaining funds may be used to provide participants with classroom training and supportive services. No more than 13.5 percent of the Federal share of the costs may be spent for administration. (If justified, a waiver to 15 percent may be provided by the Department of Labor.). The Secretary of Labor may reserve up to 1.5 percent of annual appropriation for pilots, demonstration, and evaluation activities.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
The following types of organizations are eligible to receive grants: (1) states and U.S. territories; (2) national public and private non-profit institutions/organizations, other than political parties but including faith-based and community organizations; and (3) tribal organizations.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Adults 55 years or older with a family income at or below 125 percent of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) poverty level. Prospective participants must provide documentation relative to age and personal financial status which is required to determine whether the individual is program eligible. With certain exceptions, the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey definition of income governs the determination of SCSEP applicant income eligibility. Section 518 (a)(3)(A)OAA-2006 specifies that any income that is unemployment compensation, a benefit received under title XVI of the Social Security Act; a payment made to or on behalf of veterans or former members of the Armed forces under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or 25 percent of a benefit received under title II of the Social Security Act is excluded from SCSEP income eligibility determinations.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must meet the eligibility test under Section 514(c) and the responsibility test under Section 514(d) of the Older Americans Act. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. National nonprofit organizations are required under Section 502(d) of the Older Americans Act to submit an application to the state agency, in addition to the Department of Labor. The Division of Adult Services in the Employment and Training Administration will provide information concerning proper application, format, and content and furnish standard application forms. Governors may comment on SCSEP grant proposals prior to award and may make recommendations to the Secretary of Labor to improve the distribution of SCSEP services.
Award Procedure
Awards are made directly to eligible applicants by the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 30 to 60 days. The approval range for formula grants is approximately 30 to 60 days.
Appeals
From 1 to 15 days. Appeals may be filed according to the regulations at 20 CFR 641.900.
Renewals
Grantees must meet the eligibility and responsibility test each year in order to be funded. In addition, grantees must meet negotiated performance measures described in Section 513(b) of OAA-2006, in administrative guidance, and in an Interim Final Rule on SCSEP Performance Accountability published June 29, 2007.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Title Older Americans Act 2006 Amendments, Chapter 20 CFR 641.844 of the 2004 Final Rule, Public Law P.L. 109-365.
Matching Requirements: Grantees must provide or arrange through third parties at least ten percent of the cost of the project from non-Federal sources. The grantee share of the cost may be contributed in cash or in-kind.
This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funding is provided annually. The program year runs from July 1 to June 30. The Secretary has the authority to extend the period of performance under specified conditions. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
The Annual Equitable Distribution Report and the Four Year Strategic State Plan (for state grantees only), to be reviewed and updated no less frequently than every two years. Quarterly Financial Status Report (FSR) - SF9130. The Quarterly Progress Report (QPR). QPRs are generated by the SCSEP Performance and Results QPR (SPARQ) system located within the Department of Labor based on participant data entered by grantees into the SPARQ on-line system. Quarterly Financial Status Report (FSR) - SF9130. Permitted applicant organizational costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos A-87 for state and local governments and A-122 for non profit organizations. Federal Project Officers conduct quarterly desk reviews and on-site reviews as needed. Performance is evaluated annually.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Normally to be retained by the grant or contract recipient for a three-year period following the completion of the grant or contract. Grantees are required to submit participant data via high-speed Internet access to a DOL-sponsored data collection system (SPARQ).
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: Quarterly Workforce System Results Website: http://www.doleta.gov/performance/results/Reports.cfm?#etaqr. Fiscal Year 2009: Quarterly Workforce System Results Website: http://www.doleta.gov/performance/results/Reports.cfm?#etaqr. Fiscal Year 2010: Budget Performance Information is available at www.dol.gov/dol/aboutdol/main.htm#budget.
Financial Information
Account Identification
16-0176-0-1-504 - ARRA; 16-0175-0-1-504.
Obligations
(Formula Grants) FY 08 $390,000,000; FY 09 est $440,000,000; FY 10 est $443,000,000 - National Programs. (Formula Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $119,000,000; FY 10 est $0. (Formula Grants) FY 08 $114,000,000; FY 09 est $132,000,000; FY 10 est $132,000,000 - State Programs.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For Recovery Act Funding grants ranged from $90,000 to $23.7M.
For Program Year 2009, grants ranged from $429,000 to $113.5M.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
20 CFR 641; Training and Employment Guidance Letters, Training and Employment Notices, previously issued Older Worker Bulletins that are still in effect and other SCSEP directives.
Related Programs
17.258 WIA Adult Program; 17.260 WIA Dislocated Workers
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Region 1, Keeva Davis, Telephone: (617) 788-0141; Region 2, Chantal Watler, Telephone: (215) 861-5224; Region 3, Charlotte Norton, Telephone: (404) 302-5340; Region 4, Marilyn Brandenburg, Telephone: (214) 767-2257; Region 5, Lori Harris, Telephone: (312) 596-5496; Region 6, John Jacobs, Telephone: (415) 625-7940.
Headquarters Office
Judith Gilbert 200 Constitution Avenue NW
Room S-4209, Washington, District of Columbia 20210 Email: gilbert.judith@dol.gov Phone: 202-693-3938 Fax: 202-693-3817
Web Site Address
http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: The Employment and Training Administration makes grant awards available to 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Virgin Islands, along with 18 national non-profit organizations. A variety of organizational arrangements are used to administer the SCSEP projects. Many of the grantees have contractual relationships and agreements with local government and non-profit organizations. In many cases the SCSEP program is operated by the state aging agency and within sub-state areas by area agencies on aging. Some of the national grantee organizations administer the SCSEP local projects directly through their affiliates, while others sub-grant funds to local agencies. Most of the projects operated under the auspices of the SCSEP provide service through host agencies to the community at large or to the elderly community. Some of the activities have included transportation for the elderly, serving the community as librarians, teachers' aides, nutritional aides, etc. The dual purpose of the program is to foster individual economic self sufficiency and promote useful opportunities in community service activities. Fiscal Year 2009: See above. Fiscal Year 2010: See above.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The Department annually renews grant agreements. The Department may have an open competition from time to time to select national grantees. National grants were competed in 2003 and 2006. The next competition opportunity, as specified in the authorizing legislation, will be no sooner than 2011. When such a competition occurs, a notice will be published in the Federal Register.
