Program purpose awardto move scsep participants into unsubsidized employment in both the public and private sectors, promote part-time work experiences in community service assignments for…

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging received a $4,630,428 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP, CFDA 17.235) effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This award funds part-time community service employment opportunities and supportive services for low-income, unemployed individuals aged 55 and older with household incomes at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Primary deliverables include community service employment placements at nonprofit and public agencies where participants work part-time at minimum wage, on-the-job training, individual employment planning, occupational skills training, and comprehensive support services designed to facilitate transition into unsubsidized employment.

The grant requires grantees to meet core performance measures including aggregate community service employment hours, unsubsidized employment placement rates at six and twelve months post-exit, median earnings outcomes for employed participants, and effectiveness indicators in serving employers and host agencies. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging will administer the program through its network of Area Agencies on Aging and sub-award portions of funding to local service providers, including sub-awards to entities such as Luzerne WY Counties Mental Health Me, to deliver targeted SCSEP services directly to eligible senior populations across Pennsylvania. The award is structured to allocate at least 75 percent of federal funds to participant wages and benefits, with administrative costs capped at 13.5 percent.

Program purpose awardto move scsep participants into unsubsidized employment in both the public and private sectors, promote part-time work experiences in community service assignments for unemployed low-income individuals who are 55 years of age or older, and foster self-sufficiency among such individuals. By statute, scsep state grants are awarded to governors (22% of total grant funding) and are determined by formula national non-profits (national grantee) that operate in multi-state service areas (78% of total grant funding) are awarded grants through a competition every four year. Appropriation levels determine the number of total slots, and grantees serve all slots in their service area. Programs run on a program year (july 1 - june 30).activities to be performedprimarily community service employment activities, where participants work part-time at a community service location (not for profit) for minimum wage. This work experience prepares them for unsubsidized employment while receiving services in the program or after they have completed the program. Participants also receive support services, on-the-job-training, individual employment plans, and can receive classroom and skills training.deliverables expected outcomescsep grant recipients must meet their core measures of performance which refers to hours (in the aggregate) of community service employment the percentage of project participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the project the percentage of project participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the project the median earnings of project participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the project indicators of effectiveness in serving employers, host agencies, and project participants the number of eligible individuals served and most-in-need.intended beneficiary(IES)adults age 55 and over with income at or below 125% of poverty level and not job ready.subrecipient activitiesyes, grant recipients can sub to other local agencies and non-profit organizations.