Senior Community Service Employment Program
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To provide, foster, and promote part-time work opportunities (usually 20 hours per week) in community service activities for unemployed low-income persons who are 55 years of age and older. To increase individual economic self-sufficiency participants may be placed into unsubsidized employment. Maintaining a community service focus continues to be an important program element.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Organizations which receive project grants may use the funds to create and pay for part-time community service job positions for persons age 55 and above whose income is at or below 125 percent of the poverty level. The individuals who are employed may be placed in work assignments at local service agencies (e.g., schools, hospitals, day care centers, park systems, etc.), or may be given work assignments in connection with community service projects. A portion of project funds may be used to provide participants with training, counseling, and other supportive services. No more than 13.5 percent of the Federal share of the project costs may be spent for administration. (If justified, a waiver to 15 percent may be provided by the Department of Labor.) Participants may not be employed in projects involving political activities, sectarian activities, nor may participants displace any employed worker or perform work which impairs existing contracts for service.
Who is eligible to apply...
The following types of organizations are eligible to receive project grants: (1) States; (2) public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, other than political parties but including faith-based organizations; and (3) U.S. Territories.
Credentials/Documentation
Nonprofit institutions/organizations must be so designated under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
The Division of Older Worker Programs will provide information concerning proper application, format and content. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-110 and A-102. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program by State and local governments. Governors must submit annual State Senior Employment Service Coordination Plans to the Secretary of Labor for approval, created with participation of aging organizations, area agencies on aging, workforce boards, SCSEP grantees, and other providers of employment services. Governors may comment on SCSEP grant proposals prior to their submission by the applicant, and make recommendations to the Secretary of Labor to improve the distribution of SCSEP services. National grantees serving older American Indians need not participate in developing the State plan, but must collaborate with the Secretary to develop a plan for services to all older American Indians (Section 503).
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
Awards are made directly to eligible applicants by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters for application deadlines.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 6 weeks.
Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
None.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
If performance is satisfactory, State grantees are provided with annual incremental funding. National grantees are subject to periodic competition but may receive incremental funding.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Adults 55 years or older with a family income at or below 125 percent of the DHHS poverty level. Prospective participants must certify information relative to age and personal financial status which is needed to determine whether the individual is economically disadvantaged and program eligible.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Formula Grants
Allocations of money to States or their subdivisions in accordance with distribution formulas prescribed by law or administrative regulation, for activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project.
Project Grants
The funding, for fixed or known periods, of specific projects. Project grants can include fellowships, scholarships, research grants, training grants, traineeships, experimental and demonstration grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistance grants, survey grants, and construction grants.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In the current (typical) program year, grant awards ranged from $86 million to $330 thousand.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) Program operates on program year (PY) beginning July 1 and ending June 30. PY 03 $442,305,281; PY 04 $438,650,000; and PY 05 est $440,200,000.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
16-0175-0-1-504.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
The Employment and Training Administration makes grant awards available to 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam and Virgin Islands along with twelve national nonprofit organizations and the U.S. Forest Service. A variety of organizational arrangements are used to administer the SCSEP projects. Many of the sponsors have contractual relationships and agreements with government and nonprofit organizations. In many cases the SCSEP program is operated by the State aging agency and within sub-State areas by area agencies on aging. Some of the national sponsoring organizations administer the SCSEP local projects directly through their affiliates, while others subgrant funds to local agencies. Each local project is required to coordinate its activities with local WIA projects, the State employment service, and the State Office of the Aging. Most of the projects operated under the auspices of the SCSEP provide service through host agencies to the community at large or to the elderly community. Some of the activities have included transportation for the elderly, serving the community as librarians, teachers aides, nutritional aides, etc. Transition to unsubsidized employment of participants is another service of the SCSEP.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
A level of 61,200 subsidized, part-time jobs were available for Program Year 2003. Approximately 100,000 people will be served in these positions in Program Year 2003 and for Program Year 2004 a similar number will be served. In a typical program year, 69 grant awards are made.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
The Department annually renews grant agreements. If there is a competition for grant awards it will be announced in the Federal Register.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funding is provided annually. The program year runs from July 1 to June 30.
Formula and Matching Requirements
The statutory allocation formula (Section 506(a) of the Older Americans Act, P.L. 106-501) provides for the distribution of funds on the basis of a hold-harmless factor, the number of persons aged 55 and over residing in each State and the per capita income (PCI) in each State. The statistical sources used for fund allocation are: for the number of persons age 55 and over by State: Census P-25 Current Population Reports; and for the annual PCI by State: State and County Personal Income, Bureau of Economic Analysis. Below the State level, funds are distributed on the basis of persons over the age of 55 in poverty calculated from the number of persons age 55 or over who have incomes at or below 125 percent of the DHHS poverty guidelines and Census P-60 Current Population Reports. Project sponsors must provide or arrange through third parties at least 10 percent of the cost of the project. The sponsor share of cost may be contributed in cash or in-kind. This program has Maintenance of Effort requirements; see funding agency for further details.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
(1) Quarterly Progress Reports, (2) Quarterly Financial Status Report, (3) Annual Equitable Distribution Report and (4)a State Senior Employment Coordination plan. The allowability of applicant organizational costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-87 for State and local governments, and A-122 for nonprofit organizations.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
Normally to be retained by the grant or contract recipient for a 3-year period following the completion of the grant or contract.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Older Americans Act of 1965, Title V, as amended, Public Law 106-501,114, Stat.2267; 42 U.S.C. 3001 note.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
20 CFR 641.