Giving Back How older Ohioans overcame age—and poverty—to serve their communities: The story of SCSEP
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
The Senior Community Service Employment Program began as part of the War on Poverty 40 years ago and was so successful that it became a national program under the Older Americans Act in 1973. It is referred to by its acronym — SCSEP (pronounced SEE-sep) — and operates in nearly every county in the nation. To participate in SCSEP, a person must be:
- Age 55 or older;
- Legally eligible to work in the United States;
- Living in a household with income no more than 125 percent of the federal poverty level (or about $11,000 for an individual, $16,000 for a couple).
By law, SCSEP gives special attention to veterans as well as seniors most in need — individuals who are at least 60 years old and meet at least one of the following characteristics:
- Income below 100 percent of the federal poverty level;
- Physical or mental disabilities;
- Language barriers;
- Cultural, social, or geographic isolation;
- Poor employment history or prospects.
SCSEP participants are paid minimum wage while they gain marketable job skills working part-time in nonprofit and public organizations, including senior centers, schools, and libraries. The program provides a win-win for participants and their communities: Participants help community organizations extend their reach and capabilities, while developing their own job skills, self-confidence, and a restored sense of self-worth. In 2004, SCSEP participants across the nation contributed 46 million hours of service to their communities, and about 18,000 participants gained regular employment outside the program.
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