History

Learn More About Senior Service America

For nearly 40 years, Senior Service America, Inc. (SSAI) has worked to provide older adults with employment and training opportunities.

The organization’s history begins in 1965 with the development of the Economic Opportunity Act under Title V of the Older Americans Act. Title V created funding to develop a program called “Operation Mainstream,” which provided part-time employment to people age 55 and over with poor employment prospects. Once the Department of Labor was authorized to distribute Title V funds for this program in 1967, Operation Mainstream became known as the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).  

In 1968, SSAI, then known as the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC), was chosen by the Department of Labor as one of three organizations to administer SCSEP. The organization officially began operating SCSEP with 400 participants in 10 cities. Today, SSAI’s Senior Community Service Employment Program, with the help of its network of more than 100 partnering community organizations, provides employment and training opportunities to more than 10,000 older adults in counties within 23 states and the District of Columbia.

Continuing its mission to provide employment opportunities for adults 55 and older, SSAI became a national sponsor of the Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program in 1986.

Although the name of the organization has changed over the years, SSAI has always maintained its commitment to providing employment and training to older adults.

Important dates in the organization’s history.

1961

The National Council of Senior Citizens for Health Insurance under Medicare was founded. This group worked to ensure the passage of Medicare, which would provide medical coverage for Americans age 65 and older.

1965

Medicare was signed into law.

The National Council of Senior Citizens for Health Insurance under Medicare changed its name to the National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC). The group continued to operate as a research and issues advocacy group for seniors.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill that created the Older Americans Act. Title V of the Older Americans Act created funding for Operation Mainstream, which provided part-time employment opportunities for adults 55 and older with poor employment prospects. Operation Mainstream was administered by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, now known as Health and Human Services.

1967

Operation Mainstream was transferred from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to the Department of Labor and renamed the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP, pronounced SEE-sep).

1968

The Department of Labor chose the NCSC as one of three national grantee organizations to operate SCSEP. NCSC referred to its Senior Community Service Employment Program as the Senior AIDES Program and began operating the program with 400 participants in 10 cities.

1976

The Department of Labor established an unsubsidized placement goal of 10 percent. This new goal meant that 10 percent of the SCSEP participants in a state needed to transition off the program into an unsubsidized position within a certain timeframe.

1984

The Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program was authorized by the Environmental Programs Assistance Act passed by Congress.

1986

NCSC became a national sponsor of the SEE Program.

1996

NCSC developed a new division to operate SCSEP called the National Senior Citizens Education and Research Center (NSCERC). 

NCSC and NSCERC separated, with NSCERC continuing to operate SCSEP.

2000

Congress reauthorized the Older Americans Act. Reauthorization of OAA came with a number of changes including the establishment of an unsubsidized placement goal of 20 percent and a performance accountability system as well as the development of stronger ties to the Workforce Investment Act.

2002

Anthony R. Sarmiento joined NSCERC as President and Executive Director

NSCERC changed its name to Senior Service America, Inc.

The Department of Labor held a competition to determine which organizations would operate SCSEP. SSAI was selected as one of 13 national non-profit organizations to operate the program and was awarded the third largest national grant.