Jill was retired and bored. She was searching for a sense of purpose and a reason to get up in the morning. Finances in her household were not good; she and her husband were struggling
to make ends meet. Food, gas, and day-to-day expenses were difficult to maintain. Jill’s daughter referred her to Goodwill and the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is designed to help seniors find work, develop new skills, and build their financial security by taking advantage of the on-the-job training program. Through SCSEP, Goodwill matches eligible individuals age 55 and older with nonprofits or public agencies to obtain work experience in a professional work environment. SCSEP is a national employment and training program funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and awarded to Marion Goodwill through a grant.
In June of 2021, Jill met with the SCSEP team, and they did an evaluation to determine her skill set and career interests. They worked on job search techniques and effective interview skills. Jill was placed at a nonprofit agency (Red Cross) that laid the groundwork for her training. She learned new office skills, computer skills and gained the knowledge she needed to be successful. To further her training, Jill was then placed at the Goodwill Education & Training Center where she was able to use those skills in a fast-paced environment. After being moved to the Goodwill Corporate Office, Jill flourished.
In November of 2023, Jill was offered a full-time position with Goodwill as the SCSEP coordinator. In this role she helped other seniors with basic computer skills, office skills and assisted the SCSEP manager. Fast forward to today and Jill is now the SCSEP manager. She is responsible for recruitment of host agency sites, trainees, career counseling, setting goals and outcome reports.
“I have learned I am stronger than I ever was or thought I could be,” said Jill. “With the training and caring and being given the opportunities to learn – I now have a sense of self-value and worth, even at my age.”