Senior Service America, Inc. awards grant directed to assist in workforce training for older workers 55+
The Baltimore County Department of Aging announced today that it was awarded a grant of $680,113 from Senior Service America, Inc. (SSAI). Almost 90 percent of this grant – originally from the U.S. Department of Labor – will provide temporary employment to at least 93 low-income older adults living in Baltimore County. These older adults will participate in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a cornerstone program of the Older Americans Act.
SCSEP, the only federal job training program targeted exclusively to low income seniors, promotes personal dignity and self-sufficiency through work. Its temporary part-time community service jobs provide a hand-up, not a hand-out for older, unemployed low-income Americans. The Senior Community Service Employment Program allows eligible persons to participate for up to four years, but the average tenure nationally is 18 months with the experience and training they receive leading them to permanent employment.
As the second largest U.S. Department of Labor National Grantee of SCSEP, Senior Service America works through a network of local partners delivering various career training programs for 55-plus-year-old workers in 34 states. To date, Senior Service America has placed over 12,000 older workers into permanent employment through the SCSEP program. “Our long-term, local partners are a key to the strength of SSAI and provide the systems to train older Americans into strategic advantage for employers and the Country” said Gary A. Officer, Senior Service America President and CEO. “We are very pleased to continue our support of the Baltimore County Department of Aging for the 41st consecutive year.”
“This program delivers a triple win for older adults and the whole community” said Joanne E. Williams Director, Baltimore County Department of Aging. First, SCSEP participants are helping about 50 local community, faith-based, and public agencies carry out their mission, including American Red Cross, Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society, Workforce Development Centers and the Fire Museum of Maryland. Second, older workers are keeping healthy by remaining connected and not isolated in their community. And third, SCSEP is providing hope and the dignity of work to low income 55+ who are not job ready and have the toughest employment challenges. The grant through SSAI is vital to our being able to deliver this program in our community.”
About the Baltimore County Department of Aging
The Baltimore County Department of Aging strengthens lives by providing services, programs and connections to resources. For more information, please call Maryland Access Point (MAP -Baltimore County) 410-887-2594 or visit www.baltimorecountymd.gov or e-mail aginginfo@baltimorecountymd.
About Senior Service America, Inc.
Senior Service America, Inc. (SSAI) is committed to making it possible for low-income and other disadvantaged older adults to participate fully in determining their own future and the future of their communities. SSAI provides employment opportunities to low-income and other older adults in 34 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For 50 years, SSAI has operated the Senior Community Service Employment Program and currently partners with a diverse network of local organizations in 13 states. For more information, please visit www.seniorserviceamerica.org
