Did you know? Senior Community Service

Spring 2011
Vol 2 • Issue 1
Formerly Green Thumb
Senior Community Service Employment
Program - Economic Impact
Last year, Experience Works
made a significant financial and
community service impact in
the state of Missouri.
We provided service to more
than 1,900 seniors.
More than $6,570,000 in
salary and fringes were paid
to older workers.
Program participants provided in excess of 813,500 hours
of community service at more than 800 local agencies
throughout Missouri.
Thank You to Our Partners
Experience Works would like to extend a very special
thank you to Merrell University of Jefferson City and
Moberly for providing Experience Works participants
with affordable hair cuts. These types of services play an
important role in improving the lives of our participants in
Missouri. Missouri Experience Works
Special Event
About the Senior Community Service Employment Program
(SCSEP):
Did you know?
• The SCSEP has a significant economic impact in local
communities by putting unemployed older people to
work – thereby increasing the number of people who
spend their earnings in their home towns, maintain their
dignity and significantly reduce their reliance on public
assistance.
• The SCSEP has a dual mission of community service
and employment and is highly effective in improving the
quality of life for poor seniors; even transitioning older
workers into jobs in this very difficult economy.
• The SCSEP is the only federal program that provides job
opportunities for low income older individuals.
• The SCSEP is operated in every state and territory in
the United States.
• Experience Works is the oldest and largest grantee of
the SCSEP and operates in 30 states and Puerto Rico.
Interested in the effects of federal budget proposals on the
Senior Community Service Employment Program? Check
out our press release in the news section of our website at
www.experienceworks.org.
Special Thanks to singer/songwriter Jeremy Larson whose
outstanding live show at Gillioz Theatre in Springfield raised $525 for
Experience Works. We are very grateful to Jeremy and his fans for
their generosity! Pictured left to right are MO Manager Phillis Peach,
Jeremy Larson and MO State Director Diane Chambers. Learn more
about Jeremy Larson and his music at
http://jeremylarson.typepad.com/
Contact Information
Diane Chambers
Experience Works Missouri State Director
Phone: 417-345-2797
diane_chambers@experienceworks.org
Business Spotlight on the Delivery of Home Health Care Services in Missouri
We had conversations with Dale Copenhaver,
Center Manager, Lincare, Inc. of Clinton and Angie
Penrod, Office Manger, CMV in Home Health Care
of Sikeston to learn more about their services
Please describe your business:
Dale Copenhaver: Lincare, Inc. provides respiratory care,
infusion therapy and medical equipment to patients in the
home. The Clinton office is one of 1,000 Lincare locations
in 48 states.
Angie Penrod: CMV provides advanced personal in-home
care to elderly and disabled individuals in order to help them
remain in their own homes. Our other Missouri offices are
located in Cruthersville, Poplar Bluff and Jackson.
What makes your business special in the
community?
Dale Copenhaver: Lincare is characterized by
responsiveness and clinical excellence and was founded
on the dedication to quality care. Our staff is committed to
providing quality care that helps improve the quality of life
for our clients. We have a close relationship with our clients,
and we are able to work with their physicians to keep them
informed as well.
Angie Penrod: We provide excellent care and assistance
to our clients. We strive to make them comfortable and
enhance the quality of their lives. In many cases, our
employees become friends and confidants to our clients,
who look forward to seeing them.
What qualities do you look for in your employees?
Dale Copenhaver: Our employees are dedicated and truly
care about our clients. Providing quality service is of the
utmost importance and our employees go above and beyond
to ensure our clients are well taken care of. They not only
address the clients’ medical needs, but they are genuinely
interested in them and enjoy talking with them.
Angie Penrod: Our employees have
caring attitudes and
are always willing to help others.
They take their jobs very seriously.
What advice would you give
to people who want to work
in your industry?
Dale Copenhaver: In this business
you have to be a people person with
L to R: Lincare Center Manager Dale Copehaver
and former EW participant Don Mackie
a caring spirit. It can also be the perfect opportunity
for someone who is considering a second career –
it’s very rewarding to know you are making a difference.
Angie Penrod: This type of work is a great opportunity for
someone who really wants to make a difference in the lives
of others. People need to realize that it’s not just a job –
clients are depending on them, so they have to be very
responsible.
What are the benefits of hiring older workers?
Dale Copenhaver: Older workers have an excellent work
ethic and can certainly relate well to our clients. They provide
service with a genuine passion and that is vital in making
sure we meet the needs of our clients.
Angie Penrod: Mature workers are very dependable and
responsible. They truly understand the needs of our clients
and relate well to them.
Have any of our referrals to your business been
successful?
Dale Copenhaver: Yes. We hired former Experience Works
participant Don Mackie, age 58, last November as a service
representative. Don really cares about our customers and
does a great job. We are glad to have him on staff.
Angie Penrod: We hired 68-year-old former Experience
Works participant Earlene Jung as a personal care
homemaker.
Earlene Jung, CMV
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Vol 2 • Issue 1
Experience Works • www.experienceworks.org
The Search Begins for America’s Outstanding Oldest Worker
Nominations now are being accepted in the search for
America’s Outstanding Oldest Worker for 2011. Sponsored
by Experience Works, the search is part of a national effort
to raise awareness about the contributions older individuals
make in today’s workplace and to break down the barriers
often associated with their employment. Experience Works
operates the Senior Community Service Employment
Program (SCSEP), which is funded by the U.S. Department
of Labor to provide skills training, work experience, and
community service opportunities for low-income older
workers.
America’s Outstanding Oldest Worker nominees must be
100 years of age or older, currently employed, working at
least 20 hours each week for pay and involved in his or her
community. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2011.
In a recent conversation with Executive Directors Billy
Wooten and Sally Evans, they noted that Experience Works
is proud to sponsor the search for America’s Outstanding
Oldest Worker because older individuals provide inspiration
to people of all ages and serve as role models for those
who want to continue to stay active and make valuable
contributions to the workplace and to their communities.
Sally Gordon
Last year’s honorees were 105-year-old Emilio Navarro,
of Ponce Puerto Rico, and 101-year-old Sally Gordon,
of Lincoln, Nebraska.
This year’s nomination form can be found at:
www.experienceworks.org
Emilio Navarro
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Vol 2 • Issue 1
Experience Works • www.experienceworks.org