CPC Receives Grant To Help Older Adults Work & Receive Training In Local Agencies Serving the Community | Chinese-American Planning Council
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CPC Receives Grant To Help Older Adults Work & Receive Training In Local Agencies Serving the Community

Aug
3
CPC Receives Grant To Help Older Adults Work & Receive Training In Local Agencies Serving the Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 4, 2015

CONTACT:
Michelle Liu, SCSEP Director 
mliu@cpc-nyc.org
718-358-8899

 

Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.

RECEIVES $1,630,990 GRANT

Older adults to work and receive training in local agencies serving the community

 

Flushing, New York. (August 4, 2015) – The Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. announced today that it was awarded a grant of $1,630,990 from Senior Service America, Inc. Almost 90 percent of this grant – originally from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) – will pay wages and benefits to at least 262 low-income older adults living in Kings, New York, and Queens Counties. These older adults will participate in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) a major program of the Older Americans Act which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Administered by USDOL, SCSEP is the only federal government program mandated to assist unemployed older adults seeking to rejoin the workforce.

 

“We are very pleased to continue our support of the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. for the 30th consecutive year,” said Tony Sarmiento, Senior Service America Executive Director. The Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. has received this annual SCSEP grant since 1985. "SCSEP is a vital program for the immigrant and low-income communities served by CPC. By gaining new skills and meaningful work experiences, SCSEP participants move towards economic self-sufficiency. CPC is grateful to SSAI for its support and to the numerous agencies that embrace unemployed older adults as an important part of their workforce." said CPC Interim President & CEO, Janice Won. 

 

While employed as SCSEP participants, the older workers are assigned to more than 20 local community, faith-based, and public agencies, including the Asian Community United Society, Chinese Christian Herald Crusades, Garment Industry Day Care Center, Modern Chinese School, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, CPC Queens SACCC @ PS20, New York Theological Education Center and more. The older workers receive on-the-job training to enhance their opportunities in the local job market. "Day after day I am inspired seeing the dedication of our participants. They come in eager to learn, eager to engage and eager to contribute to their communities through community service. Each time a participant is able to secure employment outside of the program we feel great pride in their accomplishments. They have become a part of the CPC family and we are happy to support them." said Michelle Liu, SCSEP Director. 

 

“Many low-income older adults want and need paid work, says Tony Sarmiento, Senior Service America Executive Director. “By serving their community, older workers receive renewed skills as well as renewed hope. Older New Yorkers are fortunate to be given the opportunity through SCSEP and the dedicated staff of the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.”

 

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About the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.

Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. (CPC) was founded in 1965 and has become one of the largest providers of social services for Asian Americans in the United States. Currently, CPC serves over 8,000 people daily through over 50+ programs in 33 locations across New York City. CPC's mission is to serve the Chinese-American, immigrant and low-income communities in New York City by providing services, skills and resources towards economic self-sufficiency. For more information, go to www.cpc-nyc.org 

 

About Senior Service America, Inc.

Senior Service America, Inc. (SSAI) is a national nonprofit organization that provides civic engagement and employment opportunities to low-income older adults. As one of 15 national SCSEP grantees of the U.S. Department of Labor, SSAI is based in Silver Spring, Maryland, and provides more than $40 million annually to a diverse network of 80 local partner organizations in 16 states. For more information, go to www.seniorserviceamerica.org, call (301) 578-8826, email tsarmiento@ssa-i.org, or Twitter @tsarmiento22. (Sarmiento is available for phone interviews upon request.)