SCSEP four-year state plans for 2020–2023

Official attachment: State plan template.

CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION                 OWI
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                            CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                        DNPTTA
             Washington, D.C. 20210                       DATE
                                                          December 31, 2019

ADVISORY:       TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE LETTER NO. 7-19

TO:             SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (SCSEP)
                GRANTEES
                STATE GOVERNORS
                STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS
                STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS
                STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD EXECUTIVE
                DIRECTORS AND CHAIRS

FROM:           JOHN PALLASCH /s/
                Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:        Senior Community Service Employment Program Four-Year State Plans

1. Purpose. The purpose of this Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) is to
   provide Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) states, territories, and
   outlying areas with guidance for submission of four-year Stand-Alone State Plans, including
   the submission process and deadline for submission. Note that this guidance pertains only to
   states that are submitting a SCSEP Stand-Alone State Plan for Program Years (PY)
   2020-2023. States that are including SCSEP as part of a Combined State Plan for 2020-2023
   must refer to ETA guidance for submission of Unified and Combined State Plans under the
   Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for Program Years (PYs) 2020-2023 for
   instructions.

2. Action Requested. The Governor or Governor’s designee is required by statute to submit a
   SCSEP Four-Year State Plan (Older Americans Act Section 503(a) (OAA). If the designee
   submits the plan, the State Plan must include as an attachment a letter from the Governor
   naming the designee. States should send their SCSEP Stand-Alone Plan via email with
   “SCSEP Four-Year Plan” in the subject line to [email protected], with a copy to
   their Federal Project Officer (FPO). To ensure approval prior to the start of the new program
   year on July 1, 2020, please submit SCSEP Stand-Alone Plans for PY 2020-23 no later than
   April 1, 2020. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) will review and approve
   State Plans so that they are in effect by the beginning of the program year, July 1, 2020. For
   plans submitted after April 1, 2020, ETA will do its best to approve the plan prior to July 1,
   2020. However, because plans submitted after April 1, 2020 may not give ETA sufficient
   time to review and approve the plans, the awarding of funds for those states could be delayed.

 RESCISSIONS                                             EXPIRATION DATE
 TEGL 16-15                                              Continuing

    3. Summary and Background. In order to receive SCSEP funds, the OAA requires the
      Governor of each State, or his or her designee, to submit a State Plan that includes a four-
      year strategy for the statewide provision of community service employment and other
      authorized activities for eligible individuals under the SCSEP. The Governor, or his or her
      designee, must also describe the planning and implementation process for SCSEP services in
      the State, taking into account the current relative distribution of eligible individuals and
      employment opportunities within the State (OAA Section 503(a) and SCSEP regulations at
      20 CFR 641.300-365). The State Plan is intended to foster coordination among the various
      SCSEP grantees and sub-recipients operating with the State and to facilitate the efforts of
      stakeholders, including State and local boards under WIOA, to work collaboratively through
      a participatory process to accomplish the SCSEP’s goals (20 CFR 641.300).

      While this TEGL provides instructions for submitting a SCSEP Stand-Alone State Plan as an
      independent document, ETA encourages States to include SCSEP as part of a WIOA
      Combined State Plan to foster closer coordination with other WIOA core and non-core
      programs. To include SCSEP in a Combined State Plan, please refer to ETA guidance for
      submission of Unified and Combined State Plans under the Workforce Innovation and
      Opportunity Act (WIOA).

4. Requirements for Submission of State Plans.

          a. Advice and Public Comment: SCSEP State grantees must make the four-year State
             Plan available for public comment before submission. The Governor, or his or her
             designee, should follow established state procedures to solicit and collect public
             comments on the State Plan (20 CFR 641.350) and must seek the advice and
             recommendations of the following organizations and individuals with expertise in
             older workers issues (20 CFR 641.315):
                  Representatives of the State and area agencies on aging;
                  State and local boards under WIOA;
                  Public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations providing
                    employment services, including each grantee operating a SCSEP project
                    within the State, except as provided under section 506(a)(3) of OAA and 20
                    CFR 641.320(b);
                  Social service organizations providing services to older individuals;
                  Grantees under Title III of OAA;
                  Affected communities;
                  Unemployed older individuals;
                  Community-based organizations serving older individuals;
                  Business organizations; and
                  Labor organizations.

              The State Plan must describe the procedures used to obtain such advice and public
              comments, including the time line for ensuring an open and inclusive planning
              process (20 CFR 641.325(f)-(g)), as well as the public comments received and a
              summary of the comments (20 CFR 641.325(h)). National grantees also have

          planning responsibilities and must coordinate with state grantees in the states where
          they operate except as provided at 20 CFR 641.320(b).
       b. Content of State Plan: As provided at 20 CFR 641.300, the SCSEP Stand-Alone
          State Plan must include a four-year strategy for the statewide provision of community
          service employment and other authorized activities for eligible individuals under the
          SCSEP. In addition, the SCSEP Stand-Alone State Plan must describe the steps that
          the state will take to encourage and improve coordination between SCSEP and WIOA
          core and non-core programs operating under the One-Stop delivery system.

          Please see Attachment I for the required content of the SCSEP Four-Year State Plan.

5. Inquiries. For further information, please contact your FPO.

6. References.
       OAA Reauthorization Act of 2016, Pub. L. 114-144 (April 19, 2016);
       SCSEP Final Rule, 82 Federal Register (FR) 56869 (December 1, 2017),
       SCSEP Final Rule, 75 FR 53786 (September 1, 2010)
       TEGL 17-16, Infrastructure Funding of the One-Stop Delivery System (January 18,
         2017);
       WIOA, Pub. L. 113-128, Sec. 121, Funding of One-Stop Infrastructure (July 22,
         2014;
       SCSEP Performance Data Collection Approval (Office of Management and
         Budget No. 1205-0040) (expiration date November 30, 2021);
       TEGL 12-06, Revised Income Inclusions and Exclusions and Procedures for
         Determining Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) Eligibility
         (December 28, 2006); and
       TEGL 11-18, 2019 Federal Poverty Guidelines for Senior Community Service
         Employment Program (SCSEP) Grants (February 27, 2019).

7. Attachment.
      Attachment I: Required Contents of SCSEP Four-Year State Plan

                                                                                  Attachment I

                  Required Content of the SCSEP Four-Year State Plan

SCSEP grantees are required at a minimum to comprehensively address the following
programmatic areas and elements in their SCSEP Stand-Alone State Plan.

  I.   Economic Projections and Impact
         A. Discuss long-term projections for jobs in industries and occupations in the state
            that may provide employment opportunities for older workers. (20 CFR
            641.302(d)). Alternately, states may discuss this in the economic analysis section
            of strategic plan, if submitting a Unified or Combined State Plan.
         B. Describe how the long-term job projections discussed in the economic analysis
            section of the strategic plan relate to the types of unsubsidized jobs for which
            SCSEP participants will train and the types of skills training provided. (20 CFR
            641.302(d))
         C. Discuss current and projected employment opportunities in the state (such as by
            providing information available under §15 of the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C.
            491-2) by occupation), and the types of skills possessed by eligible individuals.
            (20 CFR 641.325(c)).

 II.   Service Delivery and Coordination
         A. Provide a detailed description of what actions will be taken to coordinate SCSEP
             with other programs, including:
              1. Actions to coordinate activities of SCSEP grantees with WIOA Title I
                   programs, including plans for using the WIOA one-stop delivery system and
                   its partners to serve individuals aged 55 and older. (20 CFR 641.302(g),
                   641.325(e))
              2. Actions to coordinate activities of SCSEP grantees with the activities the
                   State will carry out under the other titles of the OAA. (20 CFR 641.302(h))
              3. Actions to coordinate SCSEP with other private and public entities and
                   programs that provide services to older Americans, such as community and
                   faith-based organizations, transportation programs, and programs for those
                   with special needs or disabilities. (20 CFR 641.302(i))
              4. Actions to coordinate SCSEP with other labor market and job training
                   initiatives. (20 CFR 641.302(j))
              5. Actions the State will take to ensure that SCSEP is an active partner in the
                   one-stop delivery system and the steps the State will take to encourage and
                   improve coordination with the one-stop delivery system. (20 CFR 641.335)
           B. Describe the long-term strategy for engaging employers to develop and promote
               opportunities for the placement of SCSEP participants in unsubsidized
               employment. (20 CFR 641.302(e)) (Alternately, the State may discuss this in the
               State strategies section of strategic plan if submitting a Combined Plan.)
           C. Describe the long-term strategy for serving minorities under SCSEP. (20 CFR
               641.302 (c))
           D. Provide a list of community services needed and the places that need these
               services most. Specifically, the plan must address the needs and location(s) of

                                                                                   Attachment I

               those individuals most in need of community services and the groups working to
               meet their needs. (20 CFR 641.330)
           E. Describe the long-term strategy to improve SCSEP services, including planned
               long-term changes to the design of the program within the State, and planned
               changes in the use of SCSEP grantees and program operators to better achieve
               the goals of the program. This may include recommendations to the Department
               as appropriate. (20 CFR 641.302(k))
           F. Describe a strategy for continuous improvement in the level of performance for
               SCSEP participants’ entry into unsubsidized employment, and to achieve, at a
               minimum, the levels specified in OAA Section 513(a)(2)(E)(ii). (20 CFR
               641.302(f))

III.   Location and Population Served, including Equitable Distribution (ED)
         A. Describe the localities and populations most in need of the type of projects
             authorized by title V. (20 CFR 641.325 (d))
         B. List the cities and counties where the SCSEP project will take place. Include the
             number of SCSEP authorized positions and indicate if and where the positions
             changed from the prior year.
         C. Describe any current slot imbalances and proposed steps to correct inequities to
             achieve equitable distribution.
         D. Explain the state’s long-term strategy for achieving an equitable distribution of
             SCSEP positions within the state that moves positions from over-served to
             underserved locations within the State in compliance with 20 CFR 641.365 and;
              1. Equitably serves both rural and urban areas (20 CFR 641.302(a)(2) and
              2. Serves individuals afforded priority for service under 20 CFR 641.520. (20
                   CFR 641.302(a), 641.365)
         E. Provide the ratio of eligible individuals in each service area to the total eligible
             population in the state. (20 CFR 641.325(a))
         F. Provide the relative distribution of eligible individuals who:
              1. Reside in urban and rural areas within the state
              2. Have the greatest economic need
              3. Are minorities
              4. Are limited English proficient
              5. Have the greatest social need. (20 CFR 641.325(b))
         G. Describe the steps taken to avoid disruptions to service for participants to the
             greatest extent possible, when positions are redistributed, as provided in 20 CFR
             641.365; when new Census or other reliable data becomes available; or when there
             is over-enrollment for any other reason. (20 CFR 641.325(i), 641.302(b))