Senior Work Experience Program

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides work-based training for seniors 55 and older, who are currently unemployed and in need of updating their skills. We have openings in several counties throughout Tennessee. If you would like more information to see if you qualify contact us at 931-218-9537 or email Jeff Hughes at Jeff.Hughes@tn.gov.

Seniors Have Everything to Gain

  • Assessments to determine individual needs for training
  • Training consists of upgrading existing skills, developing new skills, limited educational opportunities, job counseling, and assistance in finding and keeping a job
  • Placement is closely matched with seniors’ personal goals when placed in a position in community service (nonprofit, public, or private sector) for approximately 20 hours per week
  • Participants receive the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour

Type of Work Experiences Available

  • Teacher's aides
  • Nurse's aides
  • Library clerks
  • Clerical workers
  • Adult and child day care assistants
  • Campground recreational coordinators
  • Maintenance workers

Eligibility Requirements

Individuals applying for the SCSEP must meet the following requirements:

  • A legal resident of Tennessee
  • 55 years of age and older
  • Unemployed
  • A family income at no more than 125% of the federal poverty level

Get Started

Call the program contact below to determine whether you are eligible for SCSEP.

Vera Kea, SCSEP Coordinator
345 Adams Ave.
Memphis, TN 38103
901-766-0171
verakea@meritan.org

Counties serviced: Shelby

Britney Bartholomew
124 Weldon Drive
Martin, TN 38237
731-587-4213, ext. 234
britney.bartholomew@nwthra.org

Counties serviced: Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, and Weakley

Jennifer Rhodes, SCSEP Coordinator
1738 S. Georgia Ave.
Parsons, TN 38363
731-983-3743
jennifer.rhodes@swhra.org

Counties serviced: Decatur, Haywood, Henderson, and Madison

Shatyra Chism, SCSEP Coordinator
1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 668
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 543-3523
schism@greatermemworkforce.com

Counties serviced: Shelby

Melinda Underwood, Project Coordinator
2115 W Main St.
Union City, TN 38261
(731) 592-8980 (cell)
melinda.underwood@tncsa.com

Counties serviced: Cheatham, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Stewart, Dyer, Henry, Obion, and Weakley

Janet McLemore, SCSEP Coordinator
134 N. Third St.
Selmer, TN 38375
(731) 434-4521 cell
jmclemore@westtnworks.org

Counties serviced: Chester, Hardeman, Hardin, and McNairy 

Samantha Bradford, Older Worker Program Manager
620 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 202
Cookeville, TN 38501
(931) 316-1038
samanthabradford@careerteam.com
Counties serviced: Cumberland, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, and Putnam

Pamela Morris, Program Director
P.O. Box 638
Fayetteville, TN 37334
(931) 433-7182 ext. 135
p.morris@schra.us 

Counties serviced: Bedford, Bledsoe, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Grundy, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, Sequatchie, and Wayne

Jennifer Knepp, SCSEP Coordinator
580 S. Jefferson
Cookeville, TN 38501
931-528-1127
jknepp@uchra.com

Counties serviced: Clay, Cumberland, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White

Sharyn Hancock, Program Director
665 Mainstream Drive
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 664-8564
shancock@workforceessentials.com

Counties serviced: Cannon, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Hickman, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, Williamson, and Wilson

Renae Hawkins, SCSEP Program Manager
9111 Crosspark Drive, D-100
Knoxville, TN 37923
865-691-2551, ext. 4347
rhawkins@ethra.org

Counties serviced: Anderson, Blount, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Loudon, Monroe, Roane, and Sevier

Beverly Culp
704 Rolling Hills
Johnson City, TN 37605
423-557-3455 or 423-461-7844
bculp@fthra.org

Counties serviced: Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington

Anthony Wiley Jr., SCSEP Project Director
401 E. M.L. King Blvd., Suite 301
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423-756-1762, ext.13  
awiley@ulchatt.net

Counties serviced: Bradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, and Rhea

Emily Tackett, SCSEP Coordinator
1016 Main St.
Jacksboro, TN 37757
(423) 566-3300, ext. 5259
etackett@ethra.org

Counties serviced: Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan, Scott, and Union

Beverly Culp
704 Rolling Hills
Johnson City, TN 37605
(423) 557-3455 or (423) 461-7844
bculp@fthra.org

Counties serviced: Sullivan, Washington, Carter, and Johnson

Brenda W Tate, MBA Program Manager
2247 Western Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37921
(865) 524-2786 ext. 1552
(865) 546-0832 Fax
brenda.tate@knoxseniors.org

Counties serviced: Knox

Samantha Bradford, SCSEP Coordinator
American Job Center
620 S Jefferson Ave.
Cookeville, TN 38501
samanthabradford@careerteam.com

Counties serviced: Macon, Jackson, Fentress, Putnam, Cumberland and Van Buren