Senior Employment Specialist Program
SESP
CSFA Number: 402-03-1477
STATE AGENCY INFORMATION
Agency Name
Department On Aging (402)
Agency Identification
001-40203-1900-0300
Agency Contact
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Short Description
The Senior Employment Specialist Program (SESP) provides funding to Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) subgrantees to assist with the planning for and dissemination of information and referrals to the various federal, state, and local training and employment programs to support employment opportunities for older adults.
Federal Authorization
N/A
Illinois Statue Authorization
Illinois Act on the Aging
Illinois Administrative Rules Authorization
N/A
Objective
The following are the objectives for funded grantees to complete during the FY24 grant period.
1. Develop a comprehensive knowledge and coordinated system of federal, state and locally supported educational, training, and employment-related services, programs, and activities in the respective Planning and Service Areas (PSAs) for the purpose of providing older adults with appropriate, equitable, and maximum opportunities for participation in activities fostering increased employment and economic opportunities.
2. Collaborate with AAAs, SCSEP entities, and Comprehensive One-Stop Centers to coordinate services and programs, and to ensure non-duplication and best utilization of resources.
3. Utilize the established aging network for referrals and information dissemination to promote and advocate appropriate and equitable participation of older individuals in the various programs, services, and activities available.
4. Achieve the minimum targeted referrals as set forth in the SESP grant deliverables for the required categories of: Employment, Training, and Human Services.
5. Complete a basic SCSEP referral to the applicable Grantee (state or national contractor) for those interested in the program, even if the SCSEP grantee does not provide direct SCSEP programmatic services to local areas they serve.
6. Educate the public on the needs and desires of older workers, as well as the benefits of retaining, retraining, and hiring of older adults.
UGA Program Terms
The Grantee must administer the Grant in compliance with all rules and regulations of the Illinois Department on Aging.
Eligible Applicants
Other; Nonprofit Organizations;
Applicant Eligibility
To be considered eligible for funding under this application, applicants must:
1. Be designated as an Area Agency on Aging and/or SCSEP sub-grantee by the State of Illinois;
2. Have an Affirmative Action Plan for staff regardless of the composition of the community;
3. Comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;
4. Comply with the financial and programmatic reporting requirements set forth for this program on a regular and timely basis;
5. Hire appropriate staff and provide adequate supervision;
6. Include appropriate staff in orientation, training, and other meetings scheduled by the IDoA for this program; and
7. Permit access to program operations and records to IDoA staff for evaluation and monitoring purposes.
8. Grantee shall respond to all inquiries, requests, emails, and phone calls from the Department within three business days. In the event the contact person at the Grantee agency is unavailable, Grantee will immediately provide an alternate contact person who will respond within three business days.
9. Grantee shall participate in any Department directed surveys or requests for feedback from persons receiving assistance funded by this Grant. Failure to do so may result in withholding of payment pending compliance. See the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR 200.339) and 13.3 of this contract regarding non-compliance.
Failure to comply with any of the “Applicant Requirements” during the program year can result in denial or discontinuation of funding for this program.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Low income, unemployed adults aged 55 and older
Types of Assistance
Formula Grants
Subject / Service Area
Human Services
Credentials / Documentation
All entities must be qualified to do business with the State of Illinois. To be qualified for a grant award, an entity must:
• Have a valid DUNS number;
• Have a current SAM.gov account;
• Not be on the Federal Excluded Parties List;
• Be in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, as applicable;
• Not be on the Illinois Stop Payment list;
• Not on the Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list.
Preapplication Coordination
N/A
Application Procedures
Applications must be received electronically through the Amplifund System by the due date. A complete application includes the Universal Grant Application, Project Narrative, Uniform Grant Budget with budget narrative, and the completed Program Assurances document. Please use this URL to apply: https://il.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/bc477a16-6723-4291-a934-c2f4ae0494b3
Criteria Selecting Proposals
The SESP funding formula is determined based on the number of Comprehensive One Stop Centers located within the grantee service areas, as well as the population size of older adults aged 55 and older at or below Federal Poverty Level (FPL) within the service area.
Award Procedures
Grantees will receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA) signed and dated by the Grants Management Officer. A Uniform Grant Agreement will be sent to Grantee following the NOSA.
Funds will be reimbursed based upon monthly cash requests with supporting documentation submitted by grantee to IDoA.
Range of Approval or Disapproval Time
15-20 business days.
Appeals
Denied grantees can appeal the State's decision in writing and electronically - within 30 days from denial date to:
Rachael Baskett
Illinois Department on Aging
Office of Service Development and Procurement
One Natural Resources Way Suite 100
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1271
(217) 785-3816
Renewals
Grantees must meet the eligibility and responsibility test each year in order to be funded. In addition, grantees must meet negotiated performance measures described in Section 513(b) of OAA-2016, in administrative guidance, and in the Final Rule on SCSEP Performance Accountability published July 30, 2018. Each year in January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publishes the poverty and low-income guidelines based on the last calendar year’s increase in prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index. These numbers, multiplied by 125 percent, are the basis of “low income” for eligibility determinations as defined at Section 518(a)(3)(A) of the OAA Amendments of 2006, 42 USC §3056p(a)(3)(A).
Uses and Restrictions
Funding Restrictions
1. Funding shall be used exclusively for Senior Employment Specialist Program Grant activities. Allowable expenses shall include, but not be limited to, staffing costs, materials, supplies, travel, equipment, training, and consultant services. Expenses excluded include research and development, and construction as defined in the Uniform Budget Template.
2. Any expenses associated with the application process, pre-award costs, or any work performed prior to period of performance in the Notice of State Award (NOSA) shall not be payable under the resulting grant.
Reports
Grantees shall be required to submit financial and programmatic reports, minimally, for the following reporting periods:
- October 31, 2024 for August 1, 2024- September 30, 2024 activities
- January 31, 2025 for October 1, 2024- December 31, 2024 activities
- April 28, 2025 for January 1, 2025- March 31, 2025 activities
- July 30, 2025 for April 1, 2025-June 30, 2025 activities
Required Periodic Financial Reports - Grantee agrees to submit financial reports as requested and in the format required by Grantor. Grantee shall file quarterly reports with Grantor describing the expenditure(s) of the funds related thereto, unless more frequent reporting is required by the Grantee pursuant to specific award conditions. 2 CFR 200.207. The first of such reports shall cover the first three months after the Award begins. Quarterly reports must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days following the three month period covered by the report.
Grantee shall submit a Close-out Report within 60 calendar days following the end of the period of performance for this Agreement. The format of this Close-out Report shall follow a format prescribed by Grantor.
Monthly financial reports are due at the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) by the 10th of each month to the Title V Program Coordinator, the Department’s Division of Finance & Administration, and the Aging.OAS@illlinois.gov email address.
Reports should be emailed to the Title V Program Coordinator, Aging.OAS@illinois.gov, and Aging.fiscal@illinois.gov.
Audits
Grantee shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 USC 7501-7507) and Subpart F of 2 CFR Part 200, and the audit rules set forth by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. See 30 ILCS 708/65(c).
Records
Grantee shall maintain for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report, adequate books, all financial records and, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award, adequate to comply with 2 CFR 200.333, unless a different retention period is specified in 2 CFR 200.333. If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken.
Account Identification
allocation code
Obligations
FY 2021 - $190,300; FY 2022 - $190,300; FY 2023 - $190,300; FY 2024 - $190,300
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Range: $9,5462 - $29,370. Average: $12,975
Program Accomplishments
This grant funds activities that increase community knowledge of training and employment-related resources for low-income older adults ages 55 and older. Outcomes of this funding include increased referrals to SCSEP and employment support for older adults, increased social service and community support referrals to the AAAs from employment program older adult participants, and increased resource knowledge among the general aging provider network.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
U.S. Department of Labor- SCSEP: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/seniors
Regional or Local Assistance Location
Illinois Department on Aging
One Natural Resources Way Suite 100
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1271
Headquarters Office
Illinois Department on Aging
One Natural Resources Way Suite 100
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1271
Program Website
https://www2.illinois.gov/aging/programs/Pages/employ.aspx
FUNDING INFORMATION
Funding By Fiscal Year
FY 2017 : $327,098
FY 2018 : $190,300
FY 2019 : $190,300
FY 2020 : $190,300
FY 2021 : $190,300
FY 2022 : $190,300
FY 2023 : $190,300
FY 2024 : $190,300
Federal Funding
None
Notice of Funding Opportunities
| Agency ID | Award Range | Application Range |
ACTIVE AWARDS