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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

17.235:  Senior Community Service Employment Program

Popular Name:  SCSEP) (Older Worker Program

Objectives:  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 the extent feasible, the program assists and promotes the transition of program enrollees into unsubsidized employment.

PROGRAM AND AWARD FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS


17.235 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  The following types of organizations are eligible to receive project grants: (1) States; (2) national public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations other than political parties; and (3) U.S. Territories.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Adults 55 years or older with a family income at or below 125 percent of the DHHS poverty level.

Credentials/Documentation:  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. 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.

17.235 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

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.

Application Procedure:  The Office of National Programs, 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.

Award Procedure:  Awards are made directly to eligible applicants by the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor.

Deadlines:  Set annually. Contact Headquarters Office listed below.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  About 6 weeks.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  New grants are awarded annually.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The Department annually renews grant agreements. There are no plans to add additional organizations.

Examples of Funded Projects:  The Employment and Training Administration awards grants to 46 States, DC, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Virgin Islands along with nine 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 non profit organizations. In many cases the SCSEP program is operated by a unit within 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 other subgrant funds to local agencies. Each local project is required to coordinate its activities with local Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) projects, the State employment service, and the State Office of the Aging. Most of the projects operated under the auspices of the Senior Community Service Employment Program 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, housing programs that have included winterization as well as weatherization, serving the community as librarians, teachers aides, nutritional aides, etc. Transition to unsubsidized employment of participants is another aspect of the SCSEP.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Not calculated.

17.235 RELATED PROGRAMS:

  • 17.250 Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA).

17.235 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

A level of 61,200 subsidized, part-time jobs were available for program year 1999. Over 92,000 people will be served in these positions in program year 1999 and for Program Year 2000 a similar number will be served.

17.235 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Type of Assistance:  Formula Grants; Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) Program operates on program year (PY) beginning July 1 and ending June 30. PY 99 $440,000,000; PY 00 est $440,000,000; and PY 01 est $440,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  16-0175-0-1-504.

Authorization:  Older Americans Act of 1965, Title V, as amended, Public Law 102-375, 102 Stat. 926; 42 U.S.C. 3056 note.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  20 CFR 641.

17.235 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Office of National Programs, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, Room N4641, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210. Phone: (202) 219-5500. Contact: Anna W. Goodard.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

17.235 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  The statutory allocation formula (Section 506 of the Act) 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. 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 (MOE) requirements; see funding agency for further details. The statistical factors used for fund allocation are: 1. The number of persons age 55 and over by State, the source is Census P-25 Current Population Reports; 2. PCI - by State annually, the source is State and County Personal Income, Bureau of Economic Analysis; and 3. 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.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Funded annually. Funds are made available through annual program year grants. The program year runs from July 1 to June 30.

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.

17.235 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  (1) Quarterly Progress Reports, (2) Quarterly Financial Status Report, (3) Annual Equitable Distribution Report.

Audits:  "In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133." Nonprofit organizations are required to follow the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Records:  Normally to be retained by the grant or contract recipient for a 3-year period following the completion of the grant or contract.

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Last Updated, November, 2000             Comments or Questions?           ©Grant Community.com 2000, All Rights Reserved