Senior News August, 2002 Vol. 21. No.  8

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Ferndale celebrates 150 years: Two residents are enjoying early and later years there

Remembering Spirit - Rachel Windsong

SCSEP sets record: Local senior employment ranked seventh in nation

Ferndale celebrates 150th

Legislative inaction endangers nonprofits

Del Norte-spend two days with authors

Eel River Alzheimer's Resources

HSRC August Events

Eel River swimming hole guide available on web

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SCSEP sets record
Local senior employment ranked seventh in nation
by Jim Seith

The local AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) project site in Arcata has set a new record for the state of California during the past 12 months-and is ranked number seven out of 101 SCSEP project sites nationwide.

Congratulations to Ginger Campbell and her enrollee staff for the extraordinary work they did in Humboldt and Del Norte counties placing more than 95 percent of all program enrollees into unsubsidized employment. This placement rate is more than 450 percent above the standard set for the program nationwide.

SCSEP is funded to provide temporary work assignments and training for individuals 55 years of age and older who have incomes less than 125 percent of the poverty level. The program's goal is to provide these individuals with training opportunities in community nonprofit agencies where they can learn new skills and create a new local resume to show future employers. These older workers are an outstanding resource for all employers, and SCSEP's partnership with local nonprofits provides them with a short term training opportunity while they provide assistance to that nonprofit, helping leverage scarce community resources. It is a win-win for communities and enrollees.

Ginger and her staff worked with hundreds of older workers to find opportunties that allowed these individuals to better the quality of their lives in unsubsidized, taxpaying postions in the local community. This not only helped all of these program enrollees, but the vacancies created when an enrollee finds a job off of the program opens a slot for someone else who needs help.

Older workers are a valuable, reliable, eager and increasingly important factor in the economies of communities nationwide. Ginger and her staff have opportunities for any older worker who is eager to get out and find a job and any employer who needs help.

Ginger Campbell has been the Project Director for AARP Foundation SCSEP for 26 years. For more information call 707-822-7027 Monday through Friday 9-4.

Jim Seith is national director of the AARP Foundation Senior Employment Program.