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The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services will reduce the number of clients in its Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) by approximately 25% --- or 35 clients -- due to federal budget reductions. The number of program participants will drop from 139 to 104. President Obama’s full-year Continuing Resolution for 2011 (HR 1473) included a 45% national reduction of SCSEP funding from the FY2010 budget. The changes in the program are scheduled to take effect by July 1, 2011.
“The President and Congress have had to make some tough choices to curtail spending and exercise greater control of the budget, just as states and territories are doing. Given these federal budget reductions impacting members of our senior community, my Administration pledges to continue to provide support to those impacted by these cuts wherever possible, including employment referrals, additional job training and other stipend volunteer opportunities through the Departments of Human Services and Labor,” Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. stated.
Pointing out the great value of programs that support the socialization and employment of seniors, especially in caring for children in Head Start through the fourth grade, the governor continued, “The Great Recession is teaching all of us how to live within our means as a community and do more with limited resources.”
SCSEP is authorized by the Older Americans Act to provide subsidized, service-based training for low-income persons 55 or older who are unemployed and have poor employment prospects. The program provides participants both community service and work-based training in a wide variety of non-profit and public arenas including day-care centers, senior centers, schools and hospitals. Budget regulations, spending restrictions, and overall guidance for the program are determined by the U.S. Department of Labor and communicated to SCSEP directors nationwide through the Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL). Clients who have a prolonged tenure in the program and who have the highest level of annual income ($13,655) will be considered for removal.
"We are disappointed that the federal funding for this popular and successful senior program is being reduced. We were able to mitigate the impact a bit by placing ten of the departing seniors into unsubsidized employment, and fortunately the Virgin Islands was not cut as much as many states were. We know that both the seniors and the non-profits and government offices in which they were placed will feel the loss. We are going to do the best job we can with the 104 slots that are funded and hopefully, as the economy improves this is one of the programs that will be restored,” Human Services Commissioner Christopher Finch said.
“As one of the recipients of the SCSEP grant, VIDOL is a proud and supportive partner in assisting our senior community in providing work skills training and employment opportunities. We are diligently ensuring that program recipients are provided the requisite skills to smoothly transition to unsubsidized employment in the near future, and are confident that those transitioning off the program will receive every support available to assist their future efforts,” Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan, Jr. said.
SCSEP participants work an average of 20 hours a week, and are paid the highest of federal, state or local minimum wage. It is intended that community service training serves as a bridge to unsubsidized employment opportunities. Clients affected by the budget cuts will be offered an opportunity to join Human Services’ Foster Grandparent and Retired Senior Volunteer programs, or be referred to the VI Department of Labor for adult services programs.
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