Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

This project is funded by a grant of $22.2 million from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. This funding provides 90 percent of the support for Easterseals SCSEP programs with the remaining 10 percent through in-kind contributions worth $2.4 million. Easterseals is one of 18 national non-profit organizations to receive the award and will operate SCSEP in 150 counties in 10 states. 

The Job Seeker Experience: Unlocking Opportunities and Potential

Mature workers have so much to offer as members of today’s workforce. While they possess the work ethic, loyalty and life experience necessary to be assets to any workplace, what they often lack is opportunity. 

How does SCSEP work? 

Individual Employment Plans (IEP) 

Easterseals SCSEP staff create an Individual Employment Plan (IEP) for each participant based on his or her existing skills, employment barriers and training needs. The IEP helps participants realize their full potential by enabling them to adapt years of life experience into valuable workplace qualifications. 

Community Service Assignments 

Guided by his or her IEP, each participant is assigned to a subsidized Community Service Assignment at an Easterseals SCSEP host agency, a local non-profit or governmental agency that provides hands-on job training for about 20 hours per week. These assignments give participants the kind of work experience they cannot get in the classroom, ensuring they will be prepared for the unique requirements of employment in today’s workforce. 

Other Career Resources 

Participants also receive help developing a resume, practicing their interviewing skills and obtaining potential job leads to improve their chances of landing a job and increasing the pool of highly motivated and qualified mature workers. 

Based on their employment interests and goals, participants are assigned to qualified nonprofit organizations or government agencies on a part-time basis, where they are trained and receive work experience by performing their community service training assignment. While participants receive training, supervision and experience directly from their host agencies, their training wages and fringe benefits are paid by Easterseals. 

Strong relationships with local non-profits and government agencies are central to the success of the Senior Community Service Employment Program. Easterseals is always looking for new community partners that can assist participants in their journey towards economic self-sufficiency. Since 2003, Easterseals SCSEP participants have provided over 10 million subsidized community service hours to their local communities through training assignments. 

The Employer Experience: Discover the Benefits of Hiring Mature Workers

Finding the kind of employee that can help take your business to the top of its game is never easy. Factor in the recent economic downturn and many companies are finding that, along with decreasing profits and a shrinking workforce, employee productivity is declining. 

Now, more than ever, hiring workers who are loyal, efficient and productive can mean the difference between companies that are competitive and companies that aren’t. 

The good news is you can find the caliber of employee you’re looking for if you expand your search to include a previously under-utilized pool of talent—those 55 and older. Bringing valuable qualities such as experience, enthusiasm and loyalty to the workplace, these workers can play an important role in improving productivity in your organization. 

How can your business reach this untapped resource? That’s where a partnership with the Easterseals Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) comes in. 

What is the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)? 

Easterseals SCSEP is a program that offers free job placement services for individuals 55 and older, which can offer your business: 

• No-cost access to pre-screened candidates
• Possible reimbursement of first 30 days wages ($2,000+ potential savings)
• Tax credit assistance
• Assistance in broadening your workforce
• Job-related follow-up consulting and coaching
• Spanish language support
• Computer skills training 

Why partner with Easterseals SCSEP? 

Mature workers are becoming an increasingly important segment of today’s workforce.  

Experienced, motivated and dependable, these individuals have a uniquely strong work ethic that many of the nation’s leading corporations are now recognized as key contributors to their success. By partnering with Easterseals, your business can: 

• Improve effectiveness and efficiency among employees
• Enhance productivity within your organization
• Promote a more positive culture in the workplace
• Increase profitability
• Demonstrate a commitment to the community 

A Host Agency is any nonprofit organization or government agency that serves as a training site for SCSEP participants, where they can be supervised by organization staff. The Host Agency is matched with a motivated older worker who desires to work and learn. Together with Easterseals’ staff and the participant, develops a training assignment description for the participant, once the skills identified to be developed during the assignment are achieved, the participant will move to a new training opportunity and a new participant will be placed with the organization. 

The goal of the training assignment is for the participant to gain marketable work experience, increase confidence in the workplace, and develop a supportive professional network, to assist in the transition towards employment. 

Want to learn more? 

We’d like to extend this opportunity for you to partner with us and reap the rewards of hiring an experienced, trained worker to meet your business needs. To learn more, call 800-221-6827.