Background: The SESAs, JTPA State liaisons and local Service Delivery Areas, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) sponsors have traditionally provided state and local leadership for celebrating "National Employ the Older Worker Week." The week provides the opportunity to focus on the many positive contributions that older workers have made in the past as well as those that will be made in the future. One-Stop Career Centers may also join in recognizing the achievements of older workers. Proclamation: President Clinton has signed a Presidential Proclamation declaring March 9 through 15 to be "National Employ the Older Worker Week," thereby demonstrating the Administration's commitment to the employment of older workers. Attached is a copy of the Proclamation. Posters: The Department of Labor fully supports this effort and encourages all employment and training programs to do so as well. Under separate cover you will receive posters prepared for "National Employ the Older Worker Week." The Department encourages you to use these as you plan your activities to celebrate the week. Actions Required: Addressees are requested to: a. Distribute the attached Proclamation and posters when received to local offices and program sponsors; b. Promote efforts to educate employers on the benefits of hiring, retraining and retaining older workers; c. Undertake efforts to recognize the contributions made by older workers and to facilitate and promote their continued participation in the work force, perhaps through Job Fairs, Older Worker luncheons, newspaper releases, and radio and TV broadcasts emphasizing successful older workers; d. Coordinate with SCSEP sponsors to further foster community efforts to recognize, promote and celebrate older workers in the local communities; and e. Share experiences and examples of products developed that may be helpful to others in the future.

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Reference: See Attachment. Background: This change was made to more accurately reflect the mission of this office and to eliminate any unfortunate misinterpretations associated with the terminology "special targeted." Actions Required: Please share the attached with interested parties.

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Background: The Department of Health and Human Services published the updated Federal Poverty Income Guidelines on March 10, 1997. These guidelines are used to determine the income eligibility of SCSEP applicants and enrollees. These guidelines also apply to eligibility determinations made for joint Job Training Partnership Training Act-SCSEP projects and the Section 502(e) projects. Directive: The poverty income guidelines found in the attachment are effective from the date they were published in the Federal Register, March 10, 1997. Sponsors must use these income levels when making eligibility determinations and when preparing the SCSEP Quarterly Progress Report. Recision: Older Worker Bulletin No. 96-6.

Background: The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), which is within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Department of Education (ED) and the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) have been meeting to identify opportunities where collaboration between ETA and RSA would result in improved services to individuals with disabilities. A standing work group with staff from ED and ETA has been established to foster a productive partnership between the One-Stop Career Center System and Vocational Rehabilitation at the State and local levels. Action Required: Please distribute the attached issuance to appropriate officials within the State.

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References: Title V of the Older Americans Act (OAA), as amended, P.L. 100-175; P.L. 102-325; and the regulations at 20 CFR Part 641. Background: The Fiscal Year 1997 appropriation for the Title V program is $463 million. This amount includes $28 million which is being used to accommodate the first step of the minimum wage increase, and which was added to the PY 1996 grants. The remainder of the 1997 appropriation, $435 million, will be used for the PY 1997 grants. The 1997 Program Allotments: Attachment I provides the State funding levels and authorized positions. The unit cost used to compute the number of positions is $7,068. As provided for in the appropriations bill, the PY 1997 appropriation of $435 million is to be divided with 78 percent for national sponsors and 22 percent for State sponsors. Grant Application Procedures: Sponsors may apply by submitting the diskette provided with OW Bulletin 95-4 or by submitting the application in hard copy. As in previous years, only selected portions of the narrative are required. The Detailed Cost Breakout of the budget is not required. a. Preapplication. Sponsors must prepare the pre-application (SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance). (See Attachment II for preapplication instructions). All State and national sponsors must share preapplications on an intra-State basis. As required at OAA section 502(d)(1), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) should be provided with a copy of the preapplication by the sponsors proposing to operate in their service areas. The preapplication should be accompanied by a letter requesting the State office and the AAA to forward their comments on the preapplication to the applicant and the Division of Older Worker Programs (DOWP). Where required, the SF-424 should be submitted through the intergovernmental clearance procedures. Sponsors should submit a copy of the preapplication to DOWP. b. Application. All SCSEP sponsors must prepare and submit an original and two (2) copies of a grant application to DOWP using the forms and instructions in Attachments II and III. Grant documents with photocopied signatures cannot be accepted as official. Sponsors using the diskette must send a signed copy of the grant signature sheet with the diskette. Grantees that need an original signature returned to them on their grant document should submit two grant signature sheets with original signatures. c. Contents of the Grant Application Package. The application consists of: (1.) A grant signature sheet; (2.) A narrative. (3.) A budget (the SF-424A with budget details); and (4.) For those sponsors that apply for a section 502(e) experimental project, the completion of an additional section of the application is required. Clearance Procedure: Applicants must comply with Executive Order 12372 which implements the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) System. Many SPOCs do not require the SCSEP sponsors to submit their applications for clearance. The comments from the SPOC review, if any, should be sent to: Division of Older Worker Programs 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Room N-4641 Washington, D.C. 20210. Distribution of SCSEP Positions: In line with requirements for an equitable distribution of program positions, sponsors will be expected to decrease the number of positions which are in over-served areas and increase the number of positions which are in under-served areas. To locate positions, the most recent equitable distribution reports should be considered. All sponsors must work cooperatively to improve the distribution of program resources. Responsibility Review: The ETA will conduct a review to determine if the sponsor is capable of continuing to administer Federal funds. This review includes, but is not limited to, the following: outstanding debts; established fraud or criminal activity; grant closeout compliance; failure to correct deficiencies identified during a monitoring review; excess cash on hand; failure to return funds (see OW Bulletin 90-15); failure to have an audit, etc. (See 20 CFR Section 641.205.). When applicable, sponsors will be advised by letter of the Department's concerns. These letters will include any corrective action(s) specified as a funding condition, and a time frame for the completion of the corrective action. Sponsors that fail to remedy deficiencies will place their SCSEP sponsorship in jeopardy. Extension of The Current Grant: Sponsors that anticipate having funds available at the conclusion of the present grant period may apply for an extension. The extension may be up to 60 days. During the extension period, no administrative charges may be made against the current grant (PY 1996). All administrative charges must come from the new grant (PY 1997). To apply for an extension, submit the following documents: (a) One grant signature sheet with an original signature, and the new end date; (b) Generally, the extensions will not require a new budget, but, if a budget modification is required please provide revised budget information forms that reflect how the funds will be spent during the entire grant period; (c) Include a brief explanation of any program changes; and (d) National sponsors should mention in which States the unused funds will be spent. Experimental Projects: Instructions for experimental private sector projects that will be implemented under the authority of section 502(e) are included as Attachment IV. If an experimental project is proposed, sponsors are encouraged to include it with this application. (See 20 CFR 641.326.) The SCSEP Regulations: The final SCSEP Regulations of May 17, 1995 apply. If the Older Americans Act is reauthorized and implemented before the conclusion of the program year it may be necessary to make program and administrative adjustments. Performance Goals: Unsubsidized placements continue to be an important program service. During the last complete program year, over 16,500 SCSEP enrollees were placed in unsubsidized jobs. The program goal of placing 20 percent of the participants into unsubsidized jobs was exceeded nationally with a rate of nearly 26 percent. In addition the program performance indicator for persons served was in excess of the SCSEP program 40 percent customer service target level described in OW Bulletin 96-7. Sponsors should consider these goals when preparing the PY 1997 grant application. Action Required: All sponsors must comply with the following timetable: a. Extension requests are due by May 2. b. The preapplication is due at the State Office on Aging, the Area Agencies on Aging, and DOWP 45 days from the date of this bulletin. Early submittal is encouraged. c. The final application is due at DOWP 60 days after the date on this bulletin. The optional section 502(e) experimental projects may be submitted at this time, or later if agreed to by the Federal Representative. Please mail the preapplication and the final application to: The Division of Older Worker Programs ETA/ US Department of Labor/ Rm. N-4641 200 Constitution Ave, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210 If a sponsor is not able to comply with the timetable, the Federal Representative should be contacted as soon as possible.

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