Senior Community Service Employment Program

To qualify for the SCSEP training program, you must:

• Be 55 years of age or older
• Reside in the state of Arizona at time of enrollment
• Be Unemployed upon enrollment
• Be Eligible to work
• Have an income at or less than 125% of the federal poverty level
• Have one or more barriers to employment such as, but not limited to, low literacy skills, low employment prospects, homeless or at risk of homelessness, Limited English Proficiency, or a disability.

Is SCSEP a part-time job?
No. SCSEP provides paid work-based training for eligible individuals. While enrolled in SCSEP, participants earn a modest compensation for their time.

What are the hours and pay?
Participants work an average of 20 hours per week and earn whichever is higher of the federal, state or local minimum wage in the area.

What kind of training and work does SCSEP provide?
Participants are assessed for aptitude, areas of interest, and skill gaps, or barriers to employment. Host agency training locations are then based on those factors. Participants may hold positions such as, but not limited to:

• Child care provider
• Customer service representatives
• Teacher’s aides
• Computer technician
• Building maintenance worker
• Healthcare worker

What is a Host Agency?
Host agencies are community-based governmental entities or 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organizations that SCSEP participants are assigned for work-related training.
Assignments are dependent on the participant’s employment goals and the training opportunities available at a host agency. Participants may be placed on a waitlist if no host agency is available to meet their training needs.

Is a SCSEP participant an employee of the host agency?
No. Participants are not employed by the agency. They are paid through SCSEP. Participants are supervised during training by host agency personnel. Participants must abide by their host agencies policies while training there.
In some cases, participants have been permanently hired by their host agency, depending on their employment needs at the time.

Am I guaranteed a permanent job after participating in SCSEP?
There is no guarantee that a participant will find unsubsidized employment after completing their SCSEP assignment. Participants are required to look for unsubsidized employment during their training and provide job search documentation throughout their time in the program. Participants are also required to participate in employment workshops, job fairs and utilize other sources that will enable them to acquire employment. All SCSEP participants are required to register with Arizona Job Connection, an on-line job search system.

Is there a time limit on participation in the program?
Yes. Participant assignments average 18-20 months. Eligible participants have a SCSEP durational limit of 48 months with the program.

Will participation in SCSEP affect other social service benefits I am receiving?
SCSEP training wages may affect certain benefits, such as AHCCCS. Applicants are encouraged to contact their benefit source to verify how SCSEP wages will affect their benefit income. SCSEP does not affect HUD housing or eligibility in the supplemental nutrition assistance program (i.e., food stamps).

Is SCSEP only for people who have no education or work experience?
Participants come from all walks of life and all levels of education and work experience. SCSEP enhances employment opportunities for unemployed older Americans and promotes them as a solution for businesses seeking trained, qualified, and reliable employees. Mature workers are a valuable resource for the 21st century workforce, and SCSEP is committed to providing high-quality job training and employment assistance to participants.

What resources are available to assist me with my job-search?
ARIZONA@WORK Job search

For general information about the SCSEP Program, please email [email protected].