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Media Contact:
Lisa Cox
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

JEFFERSON CITY, MO —In recognition of National Employ Older Workers Week, statewide awards were presented in the Missouri Capitol Rotunda on Sept. 25. Award categories included Host Agency of the Year and Participant of the Year for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) as well as Missouri’s Outstanding Older Worker.

Mindy Ulstad serves as the Chief of the Bureau of Senior Programs for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and presented the awards to the recipients this year. “Older workers possess a wealth of experience that cannot be easily replicated,” said Ulstad. In addition to Bureau Chief, Mindy Ulstad serves as the State Director for the Senior Community Service Employment Program. At the ceremony, she stated, “With years, even decades, of industry knowledge, older workers have faced numerous challenges and learned valuable lessons. This depth of understanding allows older workers to approach problems with a unique perspective, often leading to innovative solutions that others may not see.”

SCSEP Host Agency of the Year

Julia Davis Library recently joined the SCSEP program in February 2024. The organization is a branch of the St. Louis Public Library, offering not only books, but also meeting rooms, access electronic materials, WiFi, computers, and printing. Located in the heart of St. Louis, Julia Davis Library is connected to the public transit system and offers curbside pickup service for convenience to patrons. Supervisors at the library work with SCSEP participants to assist them in developing skills that will enable them to secure unsubsidized employment. SCSEP participants share that the staff is very helpful and flexible in training. Julia Davis Library was nominated by SCSEP participants Denise Moore and Valerie White.

SCSEP Participant of the Year

Beverly Hansen entered the SCSEP program in August 2023 and is receiving on-the-job training with the Aging Ahead—Union Senior Center. Senior center administrator Lora Smurphat nominated Hansen. Smurphat said, “Beverly has become a valuable addition to our team at the Union Senior Center. She greets our guests as they come in, helps them to fill out any needed paperwork and to get checked in. She has learned a lot about our program and processes, helps to answer questions, both on the phone and in person.”

Older Worker of the Year

In addition to recognizing organizations and individuals involved in the SCSEP program, nominations were solicited for Older Worker of the Year. This statewide program honors a Missouri resident who is 55 or older, is employed at least 20 hours a week, and displays dependability and new skills on the job. 

Jane King was named Missouri’s Outstanding Older Worker of the Year. Starting as a volunteer at Laurie Care Center and The Knolls in 2018, King led games such as bowling and ring toss. During the shutdown caused by COVID-19, King began work as a permanent employee in the activity department. Now, she leads activities for the Memory Care unit, as well as a host of other responsibilities such as delivering mail, creating the activities calendar for the memory care unit, helping serve meals, and organizing the recycling program. Activities Director, and award nominator, Caren Talbert-Cho stated, “In my years of working as her supervisor, I have never heard her tell anyone, “That isn’t my job,” or walk away from someone without trying to make their day better and brighter.”

Annually occurring the last week of September, National Employ Older Workers Week is led by the U.S. Department of Labor and recognizes the vital role of older workers in the workforce. It aims to increase awareness of this labor segment and develop innovative strategies to tap it. It also showcases the SCSEP.

SCSEP:  Missouri’s Senior Community Service Employment Program recognizes the value of older workers in our workforce and provides job training for individuals aged 55 or older who wish to enter or reenter the workforce but need a little extra training to do so. The purpose of the program is to provide job skill training for the participants and to provide needed support to community host agencies, which consist of not-for-profit 501(c)(3) or governmental agencies. Host agencies benefit by having someone who is subsidized by the SCSEP program, helping them fill positions they could not afford to pay for on their own.

Individuals interested in learning more about obtaining a paid training assignment and 501(c)(3) or governmental agencies interested in serving as a host agency may contact the department for more information at 573-526-4542 or visit the Missouri’s Senior Community Service Employment Program webpage.

Additional photos from the event can viewed here.