HAGÅTÑA — The Guam Department of Labor is actively recruiting participants for the Senior Community Service Employment Program, a federally funded initiative that provides part-time paid training opportunities for unemployed residents aged 55 and older.
SCSEP participants are placed in 20-hour-per-week positions with local government agencies including mayors’ offices and senior citizens centers, receiving on-the-job training to help them transition into permanent employment. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Labor under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, with Guam’s current award totaling $897,581.
Labor Director David Dell’Isola said the program operates under the assumption that its funding could end at any time.
“Last year, the program faced uncertainty as the Trump Administration announced that it intended to eliminate funding for SCSEP. Fortunately, funding continued for at least another program year,” Dell’Isola said. “We continue to operate with the mindset that this program is on limited funding and we must take advantage of the funding we have to support our manamko’.”
To be eligible, applicants must be 55 or older, a Guam resident, unemployed, meet income requirements and have significant barriers to employment.
SCSEP Administrator Dorothy Gutierrez said residents who qualify for SNAP benefits are likely to meet the income requirements as well.
“If you have a disability, we will only count your income as a family of one,” Gutierrez said. “I highly encourage interested participants to come in and see us to determine if they qualify and we can help them through the process.”
Interested individuals can contact the GDOL SCSEP team at 671-475-7000/1 or email dorothy.gutierrez@dol.guam.gov. More information is available at dol.guam.gov.
