Older Adult Workforce

The Older Adult Employment Program is designed to help New York City residents aged 55 and above secure employment and develop new skills in various professional fields. It is part of the federal Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) and has been supporting older adults in finding job opportunities for over 50 years.

Eligibility:

• A resident of New York City.
• At least 55 years old.
• Currently unemployed.
• Have a family income of no more than 125% of the federal poverty level.
• Be willing to learn and train in new skills.
• Commit to actively seeking employment.

Program Features:

• Participants can secure employment in a variety of areas including administration, human and social services, customer service, health sector, security, home care, food services, and other professional opportunities.
• Classes on digital and financial literacy, customer service, job-search techniques, resume-writing, and job interview preparation.
• Participants are assigned an internship at a nonprofit or City agency to train and build their skills.
• Opportunities to participate in job fairs, workshops and meet with potential employers as they look to secure permanent employment.

Information Sessions:

• Attend a virtual session by completing the Older Adult Employment Interest Form.
• Would you rather attend an in-person information session? To attend a session at our office, call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469) or complete the Interest Form.
  • Email your questions to jobs@aging.nyc.gov.

Silver Corps: An AmeriCorps program that provides older adults with volunteer assignments at a partner organization, training, and/or credentialing to secure employment. 

Eligibility:

• At least 55 years of age.
• NYC resident
• Currently unemployed or underemployed.
• Commit to volunteering 15 hours per week in a nonprofit or government agency.
• Willing to participate in skills training and specialized training and/or credentialing programs. 

Program Features:

• Community Service Assignment: Participants will commit to volunteering 15 hours a week in a nonprofit or government agency to gain valuable experience, network with professionals, and contribute to their local community. 
• Foundational Workshops: Participants will receive training in job readiness, enhanced financial literacy, and digital skills to prepare them for success in today's workforce.
• Training and/or Credentialing Program: Participants will enroll in training and credentialing classes based on their career goals and skills. 
• Finding Employment: Participants receive job coaching and support to secure employment. 
• Job Retention: Post-employment support services will be provided to help ensure successful job retention.

Information Sessions:

• Attend a virtual information session by completing the Silver Corps Interest Form. 
• Email your questions to silvercorps@aging.nyc.gov. 

The Silver Stars Program is an opportunity for retired New York City older adults to work part-time at a City agency to help fill their needs and continue contributing to the well-being of their communities. Silver Star municipal employees can continue to collect their pensions.

Eligibility: Non-City Retirees:

• A resident of New York City.
• At least 55 years old.
• Currently unemployed.

Retired City Employees:

• Fully retired from City employment.
• Receiving a pension from a City retirement system.
• Have no remaining sick or vacation balance.
• New York City resident (unless the job posting specifies otherwise).

Opportunities:

• Positions are temporary and project-based, typically limited to a year.
• The length of position is determined by the agency’s business needs.
• Salary is determined by individual agencies.
• Assignments typically range from 15 to 29 hours per week and pay wages are comparable to project scope of work.

Learn more: To learn more about the Silver Stars program visit the ReServe website (link to website) Become a Silver Stars Candidate (reserveinc.org)

If you are a city agency, please contact us:

• Interested in hiring a NYC retiree? NYC Agencies can contact the Silver Stars staff at silverstars@aging.nyc.gov
• For more information, call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469) and ask for the Older Adult Employment Program.
• NYC Aging is an equal opportunity employer program.

The Foster Grandparent Program is a volunteer-based opportunity that offers New Yorkers age 55+ the opportunity to provide one-on-one support to children with special needs to improve their academic, social, and emotional development through volunteer assignments in schools and school-based settings.

Those who are interested in becoming should enjoy being with, or have experience with, children from ages 3 to 12 years old, to support their social, emotional and academic skills.

Eligibility:

• 55 years or older. 
• New York City resident.
• Meet income eligibility requirements.
• Willing to volunteer a minimum of 15 hours per week. 
• Able to participate in pre-service and in-service trainings.

Program Features:

The Foster Grandparent Program strives to better the lives of the children and youth, and the best way to be a better Foster Grandparent volunteer is to continuously learn new skills and be open to new ideas. 

• Pre-Service Orientation 
  • All new volunteers are required to have a minimum 20 hours of orientation which must be completed before you begin your volunteer work. This will consist of a variety of topics specific with volunteering and child related issues.
• In-service Training: Group meetings which are scheduled to provide Foster Grandparent with:
  
  • Expanded knowledge about assignment-related activities.
  • Supportive services available to them in the community.
  • Special-interest subjects related to the program.
  • Opportunities to reflect on their service.
• Stipend
  • For their service, volunteers receive $4.00 per hour (tax free) while volunteering and attending in-service training, orientation, recognition events, and other training deemed necessary by the volunteer station and/or FGP Team. 
• Meals Reimbursement 
  • As funding allows, volunteers may receive a modest reimbursement for the meals. 
• Transportation Reimbursement 
  • Within the limits of available funding resources, volunteers may be reimbursed for transportation to and from their volunteer stations and official program activities (such as orientation, in-service training, and recognition events). Volunteers are encouraged to use the least expensive means of transportation. 

Information Sessions: 

• To learn more view the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) One-Pager.
• To apply, complete the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) Interest Form. 
• For in-person information session, call Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC (212-244-6469). 
• Email your questions to: fgp@aging.nyc.gov.