Senior Community Service Employment Program

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a federal job training program for unemployed low-income seniors age 55 or older who face barriers to employment. SCSEP places seniors in part-time paid community service assignments for on-the-job training. SCSEP is sometimes called the Senior Aides Program. The program has existed in Knoxville for many years and is a part of the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee’s Office on Aging.

The goal of SCSEP is to give unemployed senior workers the job-search skills, work experience, and up to 48 months of training to prepare them to find unsubsidized jobs in the private sector. The program also promotes senior workers as a valuable resource for employers.

SCSEP is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and administered by the Center for Workforce Inclusion.

For seniors who:

  • Are 55 or older
  • Are unemployed
  • Are legally able to work in the U.S.
  • Have total family incomes no greater than 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Priority is given to:

  • Seniors over 60
  • Veterans and qualified spouses of veterans
  • Minority, limited English-speaking, and Native American seniors
  • Seniors with disabilities
  • Seniors with the greatest need.

Please contact Brenda W. Tate at the Office on Aging, (865) 524-2786 for more information.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a community service and work-based job training program for older Americans operated under a U.S. Department of Labor grant. We thank the Center for Workforce Inclusion, Inc. for selecting our organization to operate SCSEP in our community.

The CAC Office on Aging’s SCSEP program is funded by a $47.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This funding provides 90% of the support for SCSEP with the Center and its subgrantees providing approximately $5.2 million in nonfederal match. The SCSEP Program is an equal opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.