Senior Community Service Employment Program

 

To provide unemployed, low-income persons, who are age 55 or older (and not job ready), with training at community service employment assignments in public and non-profit organizations so that they can gain work experience and on-the-job training. These employment assignments promote economic self-sufficiency, and serve as bridges to unsubsidized employment.

Active 17.235 Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor A - Formula Grants; B - Project Grants Not applicable. Older Americans Act of 1965
Older Americans Act of 2016 Unless otherwise stipulated, entities carrying out the project are subject to Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards found at 2 CFR Part 200 along with the OMB approved exceptions for DOL at 2 CFR Part 2900 published on December 19, 2014 in the Federal Register; Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2016 published April 22, 2016; Interim Final Rule published December 1, 2017); Final Rule published December 26, 2010; and Training and Employment Guidance Letters., Title V, Public Law 89-73, 42 U.S.C. 3056, Statute 79,218 The following types of organizations are eligible to receive grants: (1) States; (2) U.S. territories; (3) Public and nonprofit private agency and organizations; and (4) Public or nonprofit national Indian aging organizations and public or nonprofit Pacific Island and Asian American aging organizations. Unless otherwise stipulated, entities carrying out the project are subject to Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards found at 2 CFR Part 200 along with the OMB approved exceptions for DOL at 2 CFR Part 2900 published on December 19, 2014 in the Federal Register; Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2016 published April 22, 2016; Interim Final Rule published December 1, 2017); Final Rule published December 26, 2010; and Training and Employment Guidance Letters available via https://www.doleta.gov/Seniors/html_docs/TechAssist.cfm. SCSEP applicants must be unemployed adults 55 years or older with a family income that is not more than 125 percent of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) poverty level. Prospective participants must provide documentation relevant to age and income, 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 applicants' income eligibility. Section 518 (a)(3)(A) of the OAA-2016 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. Applicants must meet the eligibility test under Section 514(c) and the responsibility test under Section 514(d) of the Older Americans Act. Preapplication coordination is required. 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. The distribution of funds under this project is a division between national grants (public and nonprofit private agency and organization grantees) and grants to states. Funds are allotted to States at 22 percent and to National organizations and agencies at 78 percent. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards 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 Office of Workforce Investment 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. Awards are made directly to eligible applicants by the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 30 to 60 days. The approval range for formula grants is approximately 30 to 60 days. From 1 to 15 days. Appeals may be filed according to the regulations at 20 CFR 641.900. 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-2016, in administrative guidance, and in the Final Rule on SCSEP Performance Accountability published September 1, 2010. The Department annually renews grant agreements. The Department will have an open competition every four to five years to select national grantees. National grants were competed in 2006, 2012, 2016 and the next competition opportunity, as specified in the authorizing legislation, will be no sooner than 2020. When such a competition occurs, a notice will be published in the Federal Register. Entities carrying out the project use the funds to create and pay for part-time job training and work experience in community service assignments for unemployed persons age 55 and above whose income is not more than 125 percent of the poverty level. The individuals who are enrolled in the program receive work experience and skills training at host agencies, which are public agencies and/or private nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. A portion of the funds may be used to provide participants with additional trainings, such as occupational skills training, on-the-job experience training, etc. (outside of the normal job-training assignments at a host agency) and supportive services. Participants may not train in projects involving political or sectarian activities, nor may participants displace any employed worker, nor perform work which impairs existing contracts for service. Entities carrying out the project must consult with appropriate area agencies on aging, with the State workforce development board and local workforce development board, and with other appropriate agencies and entities to promote coordination of activities. Additionally, each local project is required to coordinate its activities with training and other service providers under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, including utilizing the one-stop delivery system of the local workforce development areas involved to recruit eligible individuals to ensure that the maximum number of eligible individuals will have an opportunity to participate in the project. Performance Reports: All SCSEP grantees are required to enter data in the SCSEP Performance and Results QPR (SPARQ) online system to generate the Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs). Federal Project Officers conduct quarterly desk reviews and on-site reviews as needed. Performance is evaluated annually. Not applicable. 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). Statutory Formula: Title Older Americans Act 2016 Amendments Chapter 20 CFR 641.100 of the 2010 Final Rule Public Law P.L. 114-144

Matching is voluntary. The grantee must contribute matching, in cash or in-kind, of not less than 10 percent of the total cost of the project, except that the Federal Government may pay all costs of any project that is a. an emergency or disaster project; or b. a project located in an economically depressed area as determined by the Secretary of Labor in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the Office of Community Services of the Department of Health and Human Services; c. a project which is exempt by law (42 USC 3056(c)).

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: 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: Letter. Region 1, Suzanne Pouliot, Telephone: (617) 788-0180; Region 2, Chantal Watler, Telephone: (215) 861-5224; Region 3, Arthur Brooks, Telephone: (404) 302-5350; Region 4, Kajuana Donahue, Telephone: (972) 850-4613; Region 5, Gary Lewis, Telephone: (312) 596-5522; Region 6, John Jacobs, Telephone: (415) 625-7940. LaMia Chapman
200 Constitution Ave., NW
Rm. C-4510

Washington, DC 20210 US
Chapman.Lamia@dol.gov
Phone: 202-693-3356
Fax: 202-693-3015 http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/ 16-0175-0-1-504 (Formula Grants) FY 18$87,000,000.00; FY 19 est $87,000,000.00; FY 20 est $0.00; FY 17$87,000,000.00; FY 16$95,000,000.00; - State Grants(Formula Grants) FY 18$312,000,000.00; FY 19 est $312,000,000.00; FY 20 est $0.00; FY 17$478,000,000.00; FY 16$222,000,000.00; - National Programs For Program Year 2013, grants ranged from $318,604 to $82.8M. For Program Year 2014, grants ranged from $324,965 to $84.2M. 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. Not applicable.