AARP Foundation Offers Job Training and Placement
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2005-02-01 00:00:00-05:00
The AARP Foundation Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) helps job seekers improve their skills, obtain training, and find a job. If you're 55 or over and meet the income guidelines, we can help you enter-or re-enter-the job market.
Your job is to get a job. SCSEP's job is to help you.
The Cost
It's free to you. A U.S. Department of Labor grant and a match from AARP fund this program
What We Offer
SCSEP helps you improve your skills and gain work experience and self-confidence so that you can succeed in your job search. Based on your needs, our staff will:
- Assess your job skills and interests
- Help you set job goals
- Develop an Individual Employment Plan for you
- Connect you with training to learn new skills
- Help you update your resume
- Give you tips about job interviews
- Provide job clubs and workshops
- Give you job leads with employers
- Follow up with you to check on your progress
In addition, SCSEP offers these benefits:
- Worker's compensation insurance
- Yearly physical exam
- One-year free AARP membership
Who's Eligible?
You must be unemployed and meet age, income, and residency requirements
- Age: You must be age 55 or older
- Residence: You must live in the county served by the AARP SCSEP office.
- Income: Your income must be below 125% of the federal poverty level. (Not all income is counted, so it is best to contact the SCSEP office to find out if you are eligible.)
- You must be unemployed
How to Apply
AARP Foundation has 78 SCSEP sites in 22 states and Puerto Rico. Simply contact the local SCSEP office by phone or in person. If AARP SCSEP isn't in your area, the locator will direct you to finding a SCSEP office through another sponsor.
SCSEP staff will review your information and tell you if you are eligible. You will be asked for documents that prove age, residence and income. These might include a driver's license, a state ID card, a utility bill, or other document. You will also be asked about benefits you receive, as well as any special needs you have.
As part of the application process, staff will review SCSEP guidelines with you. If accepted into the program, you will sign a form stating that you agree to SCSEP policies. Once you enroll, program services begin.
While You're in SCSEP
First we'll assess your skills and interests to start you on the path toward your job goals. Then you go to one of our "Host Agencies" for temporary on-the-job training. A Host Agency could be a food bank, library, hospital, day care program, social service group, or other similar place. You work 20 hours a week and are paid at least minimum wage. During this time, we'll work with you to find a permanent part-time or full-time job.
At the same time that you are improving your job skills, SCSEP offers workshops and advice to prepare you to apply for a job. Finally, SCSEP refers you to employers who have job openings they are hoping to fill.
You'll usually stay with us for only a few months. While with us, you are in a temporary, training status, and are not an employee of AARP or the Host Agency. Our goal is for you to find a job off of the program as quickly as you're ready.
Additional Training
Besides the training you get at your Host Agency, SCSEP has two other forms of training.
- Specialized training: SCSEP may arrange for you to train in the skills for a specific job. Examples are computer skills, Certified Nursing Assistant, or customer service training.
- On-the-Job Experience: Certain employers offer on-the-job training through SCSEP. If selected for this program, you would complete a period of "trial employment" while learning job skills.
SCSEP Guidelines
It is important that you know what is expected of you if you enroll in AARP SCSEP. Our guidelines require you to:
- Have reliable transportation to get to work-training assignments
- Accept referrals and interviews for jobs
- Search for jobs outside the SCSEP program
- Be willing to transfer to a different Host Agency, if needed, to broaden your work experience
- Satisfactorily perform your work-training assignments.
A Caution About Public Benefits
If you enroll in SCSEP or get a job, it is possible that the benefits you are now receiving, including public housing, food stamps, SSI/SSD, Medicaid, and unemployment. could be affected. It is important to discuss this with the SCSEP staff and your benefits caseworker to determine what is best for you.
What If I Am Not Eligible?
If you are not eligible for SCSEP, you still have options. You can:
- Register with your local One-Stop Career Center to find job leads, training and other services.
- Check out the articles at AARP's "Careers" for a wealth of career advice on various topics.
- Volunteer with us if there's an AARP SCSEP office nearby, Or volunteer with other AARP programs .
- If you are at least 50+ but under the age limit for SCSEP (55) or over income for the program, you are still encouraged to check with a local SCSEP office; staff are knowledgeable about the local community and can provide you with referrals to assist you with your job search. In some cases they may even know about a job that you can apply for.
AARP Resources:
AARP on Careers
You'll find tons of information about your work life - from interview tips to writing your resume; from how to find out about jobs to assessing your skills - and more.
SCSEP Office Locator
Find the Senior Community Service Employment Program office closest to you.
AARP National Employer Team
AARP Foundation started this program to help you connect to companies who value your experience and abilities. They appreciate the talent mature workers bring to a job.
AARP SCSEP is a program of the AARP Foundation.
preview