VOC receives grant to help senior veterans

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded the Veterans Outreach Center's Resource Center of Rochester a $200,000 grant to provide employment opportunities for unemployed, low-income veterans over 55 years of age, with priority emphasis on those over 60.

The VOC is the only veterans' organization that has received funding under the Labor Department's Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). For more than 30 years, SCSEP has served the training and job placement needs of older workers by working in partnership with national organizations, state and local agencies that provide services to senior constituencies.

With the grant, The Resource Center will institute its "Elder Veterans Career Opportunities Project." This project will draw upon the resources of one of the VOC's collaborative partners, Lifespan, an agency which addresses the needs of the Greater Rochester Area's senior citizens. Lifespan will provide intake, assessment, enrollment, training, placement and other assistance to the VOC through a part-time Field Office Assistant assigned to The Resource Center. Overall, the project will incorporate innovative approaches customized to each veteran's needs, including flextime and mentor-assisted on-the-job training. Veterans' spouses may also be eligible for the program and its unique incentives.

Contact the VOC at 546-1081 for information.