SCSEP subgrantee survey

Older Workers Implementation and Descriptive Study

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) Survey of Subgrantees and Local Sites of National Grantees

Welcome to the SCSEP Survey!

• Who is administering this survey? The US Department of Labor (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office, in collaboration with the Employment Training Administration (ETA), has funded the Urban Institute and its partner Capital Research Corporation to conduct the Older Workers Implementation and Descriptive Study. As part of this study, the Urban Institute team is conducting a survey of all SCSEP subgrantees and local sites of national grantees to document and better understand the implementation of the SCSEP program, with an important focus on identifying the broad array of strategies for serving older workers.

• What is the purpose of this survey? The purpose of this study is to build evidence about the implementation of SCSEP and other DOL workforce programs serving older workers to inform the continuous improvement of SCSEP.

• How long will it take to complete? This survey will take approximately 3 hours. This includes time you may need to look up information and ask questions of your colleagues. You may stop and return to the survey to continue and complete it. You may also invite others to help complete various sections of the survey.

• Is participation mandatory? Your participation is voluntary and is not part of an audit or compliance review. However, your responses, combined with other subgrantees, will inform DOL and other policymakers on how they can best support the successful implementation of the SCSEP program. While we hope you will choose to complete all of the questions on the survey, you may choose to skip any question you do not feel comfortable answering.

• Who will see my responses? The Urban Institute treats the information you provide as private. We will not do anything to associate your name or identity with the results of the research and we will not share your individual responses. All evaluation reports based on the survey will report findings at the aggregate level and responses to the survey will not be identified by organization or person in any publication.

• How will my responses be used? The findings from this survey—combined with future interviews with a subset of subgrantees and local sites of national grantees, their partners, and participants—will result in a report that will offer lessons for policymakers and practitioners to inform SCSEP implementation and improvement and inform future research and evaluation activities.

• What are the risks and benefits of participation? The risks are minimal since we are not asking any sensitive questions. There is a small risk that you could be identified through your organization. The benefits are that you support research that could lead to improvements in SCSEP or other programs serving older workers.

• Who can I contact with questions? If you have any questions, please contact: XXXX at (202) 261-XXXX or [email protected].

Please check the appropriate box if you do or do not consent to participating in the survey.

• I consent to participating in the survey.

• I do not consent to participating in the survey.

Technical Instructions:

• Although rare, it is possible that your organization is involved in more than one SCSEP grant as a subgrantee. This survey response should pertain to your organization’s involvement for the following national grantee:

National Grantee: _________<pre-filled by the Urban Institute>

• This web-based survey can be saved and completed in several sittings by simply clicking the "Next" button at the bottom of the page to save your work.  If you stop and return to the survey, you will be automatically directed to the last question you completed. 

• The survey allows for multiple respondents, so you can delegate sections of the survey to individuals who might have more in-depth information on a particular program or section.  To share the survey, simply forward the original email invitation. Please note that two users cannot enter information into the survey at the same time.

• If you prefer to complete the survey on paper rather than computer, we will either mail you a paper version or email you a Microsoft Word document version of this survey. To request a survey in an alternative format, please contact XXXX at (202) 261-xxxx or [email protected].

Survey Contents:

Respondents can jump to specific sections of the survey via the links below:

Section A. Respondent Contact Information

Section B. General Information on Your Organization

Section C. Program Context and Local Conditions

Section D. SCSEP Organization and Staffing

Section E. Coordination of Local SCSEP Program with National Grantee

Section F. SCSEP Participant Recruitment and Screening

Section G. SCSEP Participant Enrollment (Orientation, Intake & Assessment, and Development of an Individual Employment Plan)

Section H. Community Service Assignments (CSAs)

Section I. SCSEP Participant Training

Section J. SCSEP Support Services

Section K. SCSEP Participant Job Placement Services

Section L. SCSEP Program Coordination with Other Partners and Other Programs Operated by the Subgrantee

Section M. COVID Effects on the SCSEP Program

OMB Burden Statement: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is XXXX-XXXX. The time required to complete this collection of information is estimated to average 4 hours, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed and complete and review the collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to [email protected] and reference the OMB Control Number XXXX-0NEW. 

Section A. Respondent Contact Information

Please check the following information for the person who should be contacted if there are questions about survey responses. {Prefill information on the contact person.]

Respondent’s Name:________________

Respondent’s Title:_____________________

Respondent’s Agency:_________________

Respondent’s Division/Unit:_____________

Respondent’s Address:

1. Street Address:_______________

2. City:___________________

3. State: ____

4. Zip:_______

Respondent’s Telephone:_________________

Respondent’s Email Address:_______________

A1. Is this contact information correct?

q₁ Yes (Skip to B1)

q₂ No

A2. Please provide the correct contact information below:

Respondent’s Name:________________

Respondent’s Title:_____________________

Respondent’s Agency:_________________

Respondent’s Division/Unit:_____________

Respondent’s Address:

1. Street Address:_______________

2. City:___________________

3. State: ____

4. Zip:_______

Respondent’s Telephone:_________________

Respondent’s Email Address:_______________

Section B. General Information on Your Organization

1. Which of the following type best describes your organization?

q₁ An American Job Center (AJC)

q₂ An Area Agency or Council on Aging

q₃ A community college

q₄ Local workforce development board

q₅ Vocational rehabilitation agency/provider

q₆ State or local government agency not included in this list

q₇ Community-based organization not included in this list

q₈ National non-profit organization

q₉ Other (please specify) ________

q₁₀ Don’t Know/Unsure

2. How many SCSEP offices or sites do you operate under your subgrant?

____ offices/sites

3. Which of the following best describes the type of geographic area your SCSEP program serves?

q₁ All urban

q₂ Primarily urban

q₃ Mix urban and rural

q₄ Primarily rural

q₅ All rural

4. What counties do you serve for your SCSEP program? [Provide dropdown option of counties by state and allow respondent to check all that apply.]

5. To what extent does your organization target and serve older individuals (ages 55 and older)?

q₁ Only target and serve older individuals [Skip to B6]

q₂ Primarily target and serve older individuals

q₃ Target and serve older individuals along with other types of individuals

q₄ Mostly serve other types of individuals, including some older individuals

B5a. What other types of individuals does your organization target and serve? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Unemployed/underemployed workers

q₂ Incumbent workers

q₃ Individuals from a specific racial or ethnic community

q₄ Individuals with disabilities

q₅ Veterans

q₆ Individuals with limited English proficiency

q₇ Individuals with low literacy

q₈ Youth

q₉ Single parents

q₁₀ Individuals with a criminal justice background/formerly incarcerated

q₁₁ Recipients of public assistance (such as TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI)

q₁₂ Homeless families/individuals

q₁₃ Others, please specify

6. Since the year you first received SCSEP funding, to what extent has your organization continued to receive SCSEP funding?

q₁ Continuously received SCSEP funding every year since first year

q₂ Not continuously involved – but have received SCSEP funding (most recently) since ___ [prefill list of years]

q₃ Don’t Know/Unsure

7. When did your organization first become involved as a SCSEP subgrantee or local site of the national grantee (i.e., first year your organization received SCSEP funding)? ___ [prefill list of years]

8. Beside the [name of national grantee], is your organization currently a subgrantee to or a local site of other national or state SCSEP grantees?

q₁ Yes – We have subgrants from other national grantees [Check all that apply]:___ [prefill list of national grantees]

q₂ Yes – We have subgrants from other state grantees – which state grantees [Check all that apply]: ____[prefill list of states]

q₃ No

9. On an annual basis for the most recently completed program year, what was your fiscal year 2022 SCSEP funding?

____ [open numeric field]

10. What is the approximate percentage of your organization’s annual budget that is SCSEP funding?

q₁ 1-25%

q₂ 26-50%

q₃ 51-75%

q₄ 76-100%

q₅ Do not know/unsure

11. With regard to the subgrant that is the focus of this survey, does your organization contract out (i.e., subcontract) any portion of your subgrant to other organizations?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to Section C]

B12a. If yes, please provide the following information about up to five subcontractors that receive the most subcontracted funding from your SCSEP subgrant.

Subcontracted Organization	Subcontracted Amount	Describe the Role the Subcontractors Plays in the SCSEP Program [Check all that apply.]
	$	*[Prefill list of response options]

*Note to programmer on response categories for last column:

1- Involved with participant recruitment

2- Involved with recruitment of new hosts/CSA positions

3- Involved with participant intake/assessment

4- Provide participant case management services

5- Provide supportive services

6- Involved with placement of SCSEP participants into CSAs

7- Involved in monitoring CSA placement or mentoring participants involved in CSA

8- Provide education or training services

9- Involved with participant job search/placement

10- Other – please specify: ___

Section C. Program Context and Local Conditions

1. Over the past year, for the geographic area served by your SCSEP subgrant, how would you characterize labor market conditions for placement of SCSEP participants into an unsubsidized job?

q₁ Excellent

q₂ Good

q₃ Fair

q₄ Poor

q₅ Don’t Know/Unsure

2. Compared to the final quarter of 2019 (i.e., just prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic), for the geographic area served by your SCSEP subgrant, how would you rate today’s labor market conditions for placement of SCSEP participants into an unsubsidized job?

q₁ Substantially Better

q₂ Somewhat Better

q₃ Unchanged/About the Same

q₄ Somewhat Worse

q₅ Substantially Worse

q₆ Don’t Know/Unsure

3. Over the past year, for the geographic area served by your SCSEP subgrant, how would you characterize labor market conditions for placing SCSEP participants into a community service assignment position?

q₁ Excellent

q₂ Good

q₃ Fair

q₄ Poor

q₅ Don’t Know/Unsure

4. Compared to the final quarter of 2019 (i.e., just prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic), for the geographic area served by your SCSEP subgrant, how would you rate today’s labor market conditions for placement of SCSEP participants into a community service assignment position?

q₁ Substantially Better

q₂ Somewhat Better

q₃ Unchanged/About the Same

q₄ Somewhat Worse

q₅ Substantially Worse

q₆ Don’t Know/Unsure

5. To what extent does your organization coordinate/collaborate with other SCSEP grantees/subgrantees?

q₁ Substantial coordination/collaboration

q₂ Some coordination/collaboration

q₃ No coordination/collaboration with nearby SCSEP subgrantee(s) [Skip to Section D]

q₄ There is no nearby SCSEP subgrantee(s) with which to coordinate/collaborate [Skip to Section D]

q₅ Don’t Know/Unsure [Skip to Section D]

C5a. If your organization has substantial or some coordination/collaboration with other SCSEP grantees/subgrantees, please identify the programmatic areas in which you collaborate. [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Marketing or outreach to recruit new SCSEP participants

q₂ Referring older workers for enrollment at other SCSEP programs (i.e., serving your local area)

q₃ Receiving referrals of older workers for enrollment from other SCSEP programs (i.e., serving your local area)

q₄ Marketing to identify new hosts offering community service assignment positions

q₅ Provision of job training for SCSEP participants

q₆ Provision of supportive services for SCSEP participants

q₇ Help with job placement of SCSEP participants (into unsubsidized) jobs

q₈ Other – Please specify: ____

q₉ Don’t Know/Unsure

6. Please share any other ways in which your local context (could be state and local policies and funding or systemic barriers to employment in your area) has affected the implementation of SCSEP in the past three years. _______________ [open ended]

Section D. SCSEP Organization and Staffing

1. How many of your organization’s staff are funded under your subgrant or as a local site of a national grantee?

___ Fulltime

___ Part-time

2. Currently, are any SCSEP participants serving in community service assignment positions at your organization?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to D3.]

D2a. If yes, how many SCSEP participants are currently serving in community service assignment positions at your organization: ____ participants

D2b. Are any of these community service assignment positions to support SCSEP program operations/service delivery (i.e., rather than general operations or other programs operated by your organization)?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

3. How many hours of training related to SCSEP program operations and service delivery are provided for newly-hired permanent SCSEP staff (not including participant-staff)? ___hours

4. Are any of the following types of training or guidance made available to newly-hired
   permanent SCSEP staff? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ A SCSEP training manual

q₂ On-line video training modules

q₃ In-person (group or one-on-one) training

q₄ Virtual/remote orientation/training workshop(s)

q₅ Other, please specify:____

5. For permanent SCSEP staff, does your organization provide on-going in-service training/workshops to update service delivery skills?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to Question D6]

D5a. How many hours of in-service training is required for these staff each year? ____ hours

D5b. How is this in-service training conducted?

q₁ On-line video training modules

q₂ In-person (group or one-on-one) training

q₃ Virtual/remote workshops(s)

q₄ Other, please specify: ____

6. To what degree are you able to hire permanent SCSEP staff who reflect the racial and ethnic make-up of your SCSEP participants?

q₁ Staffing substantially reflects the racial and ethnic make-up of SCSEP participants

q₂ Staffing somewhat reflects the racial and ethnic make-up of SCSEP participants

q₃ Staffing does not reflect the racial and ethnic make-up of SCSEP participants

q₄ Don’t Know/Unsure

7. To what degree are you able to hire permanent staff who reflect the gender make-up of your SCSEP participants?

q₁ Staffing substantially reflects the gender make-up of SCSEP participants

q₂ Staffing somewhat reflects the gender make-up of SCSEP participants

q₃ Staffing does not reflect the gender make-up of SCSEP participants

q₄ Don’t Know/Unsure

8. To what degree are you able to hire permanent staff who reflect the age 55-plus make-up of your SCSEP participants?

q₁ Staffing substantially reflects the age make-up of SCSEP participants

q₂ Staffing somewhat reflects the age make-up of SCSEP participants

q₃ Staffing does not reflect the age make-up of SCSEP participants

q₄ Don’t Know/Unsure

9. Please describe any staffing improvements or successes your organization has had over the past three years. _________________ [open ended]

Section E. Coordination of Local SCSEP Program with National Grantee

1. Which of the following best characterizes to what extent decisions about the structure and operation of your SCSEP program are made at national grantee level or by your organization (if a subgrantee)?

q₁ Programmatic and operational decisions are made mostly by the national grantee

q₂ Programmatic and operational decisions are made mostly by the subgrantee or local site

q₃ Programmatic and operational decisions are made mostly jointly by the national grantee and the subgrantee or local site

q₄ Broad programmatic decisions are made by national grantees, but operational decisions are left to the subgrantee or local site

q₅ Other – please specify: ____

2. Does the national grantee provide your organization (as a subgrantee or local site) with a manual of standard operating procedures to guide SCSEP program operations and service delivery?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

3. Does the national grantee provide training to your permanent SCSEP staff?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to Question E4]

E3a. How does the national grantee provide training to your permanent SCSEP staff? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Conference(s)

q₂ Webinar(s)

q₃ On-site in-person training workshop(s) by national program staff

q₄ Provision of on-line training modules

q₅ Other – please specify: _____

E3b. What topics have the national grantee provided training on in the past program year? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ New/updated DOL SCSEP program guidance

q₂ Participant recruitment

q₃ Host agency recruitment

q₄ Data collection and tracking

q₅ Partnering with other organizations (e.g., American Job Centers)

q₆ Engaging employers (e.g., to sponsor On-the-Job Experiences or hire SCSEP participants into unsubsidized employment)

q₇ Participant intake and assessment procedures

q₈ Other – please specify: _____

q₉ None of the above

4. To what extent and how does the national grantee monitor the program operations and performance? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Telephone/video-conference calls – if yes, how often:

_Weekly _Bi-Weekly _Monthly _Quarterly _Semi-Annually _Annually

q₂ On-site visits/meetings – if yes, how often:

How often: _Weekly _Bi-Weekly _Monthly _Quarterly _Semi-Annually _Annually

q₃ Other: __________

5. To what extent does staff at your organization interact with staff at other subgrantees or local sites (either of your same national grantee or other national grantees)?

q₁ Daily interactions

q₂ Weekly interactions

q₃ Monthly interactions

q₄ Semi-annual/annual interactions

q₅ Sporadic interactions, as needed

q₆ No interactions

6. Overall, are there any additional areas of guidance, training, or technical assistance that your organization needs?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to Section F]

E6a. If yes, please briefly describe any areas of guidance, training, or technical assistance needed by your organization on SCSEP or your subgrant:________

Section F. SCSEP Participant Recruitment and Screening

1. What is your goal for participant enrollment for the current program year and the past two completed years?

Program Year	Enrollment Goal – New SCSEP Participants	Enrollment Goal – Total SCSEP Participants	Actual Total SCSEP Participants
Current Program Year PY XX			Not Applicable
Prior PY XX
Prior PY XX

2. Which of these outreach methods does your organization use to recruit older individuals for your local SCSEP program? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Distribution of program brochures/flyers

q₂ Staff outreach efforts (e.g., making presentations at community meetings, information sessions at subgrantee/local site)

q₃ Use of social media/online outreach efforts

q₄ Use of local media [e.g., paid advertisement, PSAs, etc.]

q₅ Other, please specify: ____

q₆ No outreach conducted to recruit for the SCSEP program

3. What are your organization’s main referral sources of older individuals for your SCSEP program? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Referrals from current or former SCSEP participants

q₂ Referrals from AJCs/workforce development boards/WIOA

q₃ Referrals from agencies/organizations serving individuals ages 55 and older

q₄ Referrals from organizations providing adult education/basic skills training

q₅ Referrals from host agencies

q₆ Referrals from programs serving people with disabilities (e.g., vocational rehabilitation agencies)

q₇ Referrals from homeless serving agencies

q₈ Referrals from veteran-serving agencies/organizations

q₉ Referrals from public assistance agencies/offices (e.g., TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI)

q₁₀ Referrals from other SCSEP grantees or subgrantees

q₁₁ Other, please specify: ____

q₁₂ No referrals received from other programs/agencies

4. Which population subgroups does your organization specifically target; what referral sources are most important for specific groups, and to what extent is a particular subgroup challenging to recruit? Please complete the following table.

Priority Subpopulations	Which referral sources are most important for this group [Check up to 3 sources.] *[Prefill drop down list]	Rate challenge of recruiting the particular group (1-Very Challenging; 2-Somewhat Challenging; 3-Not Challenging)
Are covered persons in accordance with the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW)
Are 65 years or older
Have a disability
Have limited English proficiency
Have low literacy skills
Reside in a rural area
Have low employment prospects
Have failed to find employment after utilizing services provided under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Are homeless or are at risk for homelessness
Other, please specify:______

*Note to programmer on response categories:

1- Referrals from current or former SCSEP participants; 2-Referrals from AJCs/workforce development boards/WIOA; 3-Referrals from agencies/organizations serving aged and/or older workers; 4-Referrals from literacy/basic education agencies; 5-Referrals from host agencies; 6-Referrals from agencies/programs serving disabled individuals/vocational rehabilitation agencies; 7-Referrals from homeless serving agencies; 8-Referrals from veteran serving agencies/organizations; 9-Referrals from other SCSEP grantees or subgrantees; 10- Other, please specify: ____

5. If under your SCSEP subgrant your organization serves both urban and rural areas, to what extent do recruitment approaches and methods used vary for urban versus rural areas?

q₁ Do not serve urban and rural areas [Skip to Question F6.]

q₂ Methods are the same [Skip to Question F6.]

q₃ Methods are similar but not the same

q₄ Methods are quite different

F5a. If methods are not the same for urban and rural areas, please briefly describe how they differ: _______

6. To what extent does your organization need to conduct outreach and recruitment activities to meet its SCSEP enrollment goals?

q₁ Without extensive outreach and recruitment we would not reach our enrollment goal

q₂ Some outreach and recruitment is needed to reach our enrollment goal

q₃ Little to no outreach and recruitment is needed to reach our enrollment goal

q₄ Other – please specify: ____

7. Does your organization currently have a waiting list for new enrollments into the program?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to Question F8]

F7a. How many individuals are on your waiting list?

Number of individuals currently on waiting list: _____

F7b. Approximately how long are older worker typically waiting to be enrolled?

q₂ Length of time spent on the waiting list, on average: _______weeks

8. Does your organization over-recruit/over-enroll SCSEP participants with the anticipation that some will drop out before they are placed in a community service assignment position?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

9. To what extent does your organization experience the following participant recruitment challenges?

Challenge	Not challenging at all (1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	Very challenging (5)
Insufficient numbers of older workers in geographic area served
Insufficient numbers of older workers interested in the services SCSEP is offering
Insufficient numbers of vacant CSA slots into which to enroll new SCSEP participants
Referral organizations have not provided as many referrals as anticipated
Potential new SCSEP candidates are not willing to go through intake and assessment process
Potential new SCSEP candidates, while interested in CSAs, are not interested in eventually securing an unsubsidized job
Proximity of AJCs to populations being targeted
Other – please specify:_____

10. What recruitment strategies have you found most successful for recruiting new SCSEP participants? [Check up to 3 strategies.]

q₁ Worked with partner with organizations that serve older individuals in the community to improve referrals

q₂ Used traditional media advertising (e.g., TV, radio, and newspapers to reach older individuals

q₃ Used social media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook) to reach older individuals

q₄ Used current or former SCSEP participants to recruit new participants

q₅ Developed and implemented outreach strategies to reach individuals from specific racial and ethnic communities

q₆ Used host agencies and employers to recruit new participants

q₇ Other, please specify: ______

11. Do you conduct screening of potential participants before beginning the SCSEP enrollment process?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to F.13]

12. What are you screening potential participants for? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Meeting eligibility for SCSEP (e.g., age, income)

q₂ Qualifying as “most-in-need” individual

q₃ Having barriers to employment that SCSEP could address

q₄ Being a member of a racial or ethnic community

q₅ Interest in high-demand occupations in their area

q₆ Having the goal of eventually entering into an unsubsidized job

q₇ Other, please specify: ______

13. Please describe any improvements to or successes in recruiting and screening potential participants your organization has had over the past three years. _________________ [open ended]

Section G. SCSEP Participant Enrollment (Orientation, Intake & Assessment, and Development of an Individual Employment Plan)

1. What does the enrollment process look like for SCSEP applicants?

Activity	Order of activity	Mode for activity	Group or in-person	Length of activity
Intake	[Allow respondent to provide 1-4 for order of each activity or option for “Does not conduct activity]	q1 In-person q2 Virtual (online, phone, video conference) q3 Both	q1 Group q2 One-on-one q3 Both	___ hours
Orientation		q1 In-person q2 Virtual (online, phone, video conference) q3 Both	q1 Group q2 One-on-one q3 Both	___ hours
Assessment		q1 In-person q2 Virtual (online, phone, video conference) q3 Both	q1 Group q2 One-on-one q3 Both	___ hours
IEP development		q1 In-person q2 Virtual (online, phone, video conference) q3 Both	q1 Group q2 One-on-one q3 Both	___ hours

2. As part of the participant assessment, what are the main topics covered? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Work history

q₂ Occupational interest/preferences

q₃ Occupational skills

q₄ Job readiness

q₅ Basic skills (reading, writing, math)

q₆ English language proficiency

q₇ Need for accommodation in the workplace (due to disability or health issue)

q₈ Digital/technology skills

q₉ Need for education and job training

q₁₀ CSA preferences

q₁₁ Potential for achieving unsubsidized job

q₁₂ Support services needs

q₁₃ Current public assistance benefits

q₁₄ Employment goals

q₁₅ Other, please specify: ____

3. To what extent does the assessment process and IEP contribute to appropriate matching of SCSEP participants into CSAs?

q₁ Very helpful

q₂ Somewhat helpful

q₃ Not that helpful

4. To what extent does the assessment process and IEP contribute to the eventual placement of SCSEP participants into unsubsidized jobs?

q₁ Very helpful

q₂ Somewhat helpful

q₃ Not that helpful

5. Upon program entry, about what proportion of new participants receive a physical examination (as a service to be made available during the intake process? ___ percent of new participants

6. About what proportion of participants receive a reoccurring annual physical examination made available by the SCSEP program? ___percent

7. Please briefly describe any changes your organization has made its assessment or IEP process in the last three years, what motivated it, and how you feel is improving SCSEP participant success. _________________ [open ended]

Section H. Community Service Assignments (CSAs)

Host agencies (i.e., providing CSAs for participants)

1. Currently, how many host agencies (i.e., sponsoring CSAs) does your organization have (i.e., including those hosts with SCSEP participants currently active in CSA positions and hosts that have vacant CSA positions that are willing to take a SCSEP participant)? ___ host agencies

2. Currently, for these host agencies, how many CSA positions are available (including both currently vacant positions and those filled)? ___ CSA positions

3. Currently, for these host agencies, how many CSA positions are filled by SCSEP participants (note: this could be the same in H2, but not exceed H2)? ___ CSA positions

4. Across these host agencies, currently what is the highest and the lowest number of CSA positions filled by SCSEP participants?

Highest number of CSAs positions filled at a host agency: ___

Lowest number of CSAs positions filled at a host agency: ___

5. What type of organizations are currently serving as host agencies? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ American Job Centers (AJC)

q₂ Local workforce development board

q₃ Agencies/organizations serving aged and/or older workers, such as Area Agency on Aging

q₄ Educational institution (community college, primary or secondary school, university, pre-kindergarten)

q₅ Local human/social services agency (e.g., TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, etc.)

q₆ Literacy/basic education agencies or programs

q₇ Agencies/programs serving people with disabilities/vocational rehabilitation agencies

q₈ Homeless serving agencies

q₉ Veteran serving agencies/organizations

q₁₀ Your own organization (including the SCSEP program and other programs you may operate)

q₁₁ Other, please specify: ____

6. What are the three most common occupations for CSA positions (e.g., administrative assistant, janitor or custodian, customer service representative)?

q₁ Occupation #1: _________________________

q₂ Occupation #2: _________________________

q₃ Occupation #3: _________________________

7. What are the most five common work tasks performed by SCSEP participants in their CSA positions (e.g., answer phones/emails, janitorial/custodial services, data entry)?

q₁ Task #1: _________________________

q₂ Task #2: _________________________

q₃ Task #3: _________________________

q₄ Task #4: _________________________

q₅ Task #5: _________________________

8. What outreach methods does your organization use to identify and recruit new host agencies under your subgrant? {Check all that apply.]

q₁ Distribution of program brochures/flyers

q₂ Staff presentations at community meetings that potential host agencies attend

q₃ Staff meeting one-on-one with potential host agency representative(s)

q₄ Use of social media/online outreach efforts [Facebook, Twitter]

q₅ Use of local media [paid advertisement, PSAs, etc.)

q₆ Referrals from existing host agencies

q₇ Other, please specify: _____________

q₈ No outreach conducted to identify/recruit new hosts

9. How often in the most recently completed program year was your organization actively seeking new host agencies?

q₁ All the time

q₂ Most of the year

q₃ Half of the year

q₄ Some of the year

q₅ None of the year

10. During the most recently completed program year, how many new host agencies did your organization recruit under your subgrant? ___

11. What challenges does your organization face in recruiting sufficient numbers of host agencies to be able to place SCSEP participants in CSA positions in a timely manner?

Recruitment Challenge	Not a challenge (1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	Major challenge (5)
Finding host agencies that offer CSA positions appropriate for SCSEP participants
Finding host agencies that offer CSA positions that SCSEP participants are likely to be interested in doing
Finding host agencies in location(s) that SCSEP participants can get to
Finding host agencies that understand and are willing to offer CSA positions that will meet the needs of SCSEP participants
Finding host agencies willing to train participants
Addressing age discrimination
Other – please specify: _______________________

12. When a new host is added (that has not previously provided CSAs for SCSEP participants), does your organization provide any of the following types of orientation/training on how to be a successful host agency? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ A group orientation/training for new host agencies

q₂ One-on-one orientation/training for new host agencies

q₃ Video training modules

q₄ A training manual

q₅ Other (please specify) ________

q₆ No orientation or training of host agencies [Skip to H16]

13. What topics are covered during host orientation and training? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ SCSEP federal policy that affects host agencies

q₂ SCSEP national grantee administrative policy that affects host agencies

q₃ Supervisory requirements

q₄ Tracking and monitoring procedures

q₅ Strategies for providing continuous training/learning opportunities for SCSEP participants

q₆ Strategies for ensuring CSAs help SCSEP participants develop new, in-demand skills

q₇ Strategies for improving SCSEP participants’ professional or workplace skills

q₈ Strategies for addresses challenges with SCSEP participants’ performance

q₉ Addressing age discrimination

q₁₀ Addressing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (e.g., unconscious bias)

q₁₁ Other (please specify) ________

14. Approximately how many cumulative hours of orientation and training is provided for new host agencies (i.e., to inform them on how to serve SCSEP participants involved in CSAs)? ___ hours

15. Is any training or materials with guidance provided for host agency staff that will be directly supervising/mentoring SCSEP participants in their CSA positions?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

16. For existing host agencies, what types of ongoing technical assistance and training does your organization provide? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Group technical assistance and training

q₂ One-on-one technical assistance and training

q₃ Video training modules

q₄ Updated training manual

q₅ Other (please specify) ________

q₆ No ongoing technical assistance and training for host agencies [Skip to H18]

17. For existing host agencies, on what topics does your organization provide ongoing technical assistance and training? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ New/updated SCSEP federal policy that affects host agencies

q₂ New/updated SCSEP national grantee administrative policy that affects host agencies

q₃ New/updated supervisory requirements

q₄ New/updated tracking and monitoring procedures

q₅ Strategies for providing continuous training/learning opportunities for SCSEP participants

q₆ Strategies for ensuring CSAs help SCSEP participants develop new, in-demand skills

q₇ Strategies for improving SCSEP participants’ professional or workplace skills

q₈ Strategies for addresses challenges with SCSEP participants’ performance

q₉ Addressing age discrimination

q₁₀ Addressing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (e.g., unconscious bias)

q₁₁ Other (please specify) ________

Participant Selection/Referral Process to CSAs

18. Does your organization use any of the following as criteria to match SCSEP participants to available CSA positions? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Participant’s occupational interest(s)

q₂ Participant’s locational preferences/transportation capabilities to get to the CSA sponsoring organization

q₃ Participant’s likelihood of transitioning from the CSA to an unsubsidized job

q₄ Results of the participant’s assessment/IEP

q₅ Skills that participant needs/wants to develop

q₆ Job requirements/description provided by the host agency for matching of participant to the CSA position

q₇ Other (please specify) ________

q₉ No criteria used in matching process

19. From the time of enrollment in SCSEP, about how long does it take to match and place participants in a CSA position? ____ days

20. When a new SCSEP participant is ready to be placed in a CSA position, about how many CSA positions are usually available to which an participant can be placed?

q₁ 1-2 positions

q₂ 3-5 positions

q₃ 6-10 positions

q₄ 11-15 positions

q₅ 16-20 positions

q₆ 21 or more positions

q₇ Don’t know/unsure

21. Typically, how many SCSEP participants are sent to a host for a given CSA opening? ___ applicants for each CSA opening

22. Do host agencies interview SCSEP participant(s) for a CSA position?

q₁ Always

q₂ Usually

q₃ Sometimes

q₄ Only if host requests that an interview be conducted

q₅ No

23. Can host agencies decline/reject a participant that has been referred for a CSA position?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

24. To what extent is it challenging for your organization to find an appropriate CSA match for SCSEP applicants/participants?

q₁ Substantial challenges

q₂ Somewhat of a challenge

q₃ Not a challenge [Skip to H62.]

H24a. If a substantial or somewhat of a challenge, please briefly describe to main challenge(s):____

25. Which, if any, of the following the following subpopulation are most challenging to place in CSAs? [Check up to three subpopulations.]

q₁ Covered persons in accordance with the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW)

q₂ Older SCSEP participants (i.e., 65 years of age and older)

q₃ SCSEP participants that have a disability

q₄ SCSEP participants that have limited English proficiency

q₅ SCSEP participants with literacy skills

q₆ SCSEP participants residing in a rural area

q₇ SCSEP participants with low employment prospects

q₈ SCSEP participants that have failed to find employment after utilizing services provided under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

q₉ Other, please specify: ________

q₁₀ No challenges in placing specific subpopulations in CSAs

H25a. If there are challenges to placing specific subpopulations, please briefly discuss strategies used to serve specific subpopulations and reduce challenges to CSA placement: _____

Compensation and Hours for CSA Positions

26. On what basis is the hourly rate determined? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Federal minimum wage

q₂ State minimum wage

q₃ Local minimum wage

q₄ Prevailing rate of pay for persons employed in similar public occupations by the same employer

q₅ Pay/wage offered by host agency if higher than minimum wage

q₆ Other, please specify:_______

27. What was the average hourly rate across all participants in CSA positions in the last completed program year? What was the highest and lowest hourly rate paid?

PY _____: Average -- $______ Highest-- $______ Lowest-- $______

28. For the last completed program year, what was the average number of hours worked per week across all SCSEP participants in CSA positions? What was the highest and lowest number of hours worked ?

PY _____: Average -- __hours/week Highest-- __hours/week Lowest-- __hours/week

Duration and Rotation of CSAs

29. What is the average length of individual CSA assignments? ____ months

30. Do you have a limit on how long a participant can serve in a CSA position?

q₁ Yes, specify the limit: ____ months

q₂ No [Skip to H31]

H30a. Is this your organization’s or the national grantee’s policy?

q₁ My organization’s policy

q₂ National grantee policy

H30b. Does your organization allow for exceptions to this limit?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

31. Do host agencies have input on the duration of a SCSEP participant placed in a CSA?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

32. If the host agency is not satisfied with a SCSEP participant, can the host agency request removal and replacement of the SCSEP participant from a CSA position?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to H33]

H32a. During the past program year, have any host agencies requested removal/replacement of SCSEP participants from a CSA position?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to H33]

H32b. If you have had a request for removal or replacement of a SCSEP participant or participants from a CSA position in the past program year, for what reason(s) was/were the removal/replacement requested? __________ [open ended]

33. When a participant is moved into a new CSA position, is it typically with the same host or a new host?

q₁ Usually/often with the same host

q₂ Occasionally with the same host

q₃ Usually/often with different host

q₄ Always with a different host

Staff/Participant Perspectives on CSAs

34. From your perspective, what is important for a high quality/positive CSA experience? [Check all that apply.]

	Not important (1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	Very important (5)
Interesting work/tasks assigned
Careful matching of participant with host agency
Positive supervisor-participant relationship
Specialized training to prepare participants for CSA
Acquisition of new occupational/technical skills from CSA
Development of professional and workplace skills
Length of host agency’s involvement in the SCSEP program
Ensuring that participants have support services to help them persist in their CSA
Other, please specify: ____________________

35. How does your organization collect feedback from participants about their experiences in their CSAs? [Check all that apply.]
    q₁ Through regular staff interactions with participants involved in CSAs
    q₂ Having participants involved in CSAs complete a survey or form
    q₃ Other:_____
    
    

36. What are the three most common complaints/concerns of participants about their CSAs? [Check up to three responses.]

q₁ Too much manual work

q₂ Boring or repetitive work assignments

q₃ Lack of skills development

q₄ Disconnect between work tasks/assignments in CSA and work tasks in the permanent job that the participant is looking for

q₅ Inability/unwillingness of the host to offer the participant a permanent job

q₆ Not enough pay

q₇ Not enough guidance/mentorship provided by host organization’s staff

q₈ Inconvenient work hours in the CSA

q₉ Long commute to the CSA location

q₁₀ Other – please specify:_____

37. Please describe any changes or new strategies your organization has made to CSAs in the past three years, such as strategies to recruit new hosts, to match participants to CSAs, to enhance participant experiences/skills building in CSAs, etc. _______________ [open ended]

Section I. Training Outside of CSAs

1. Do you provide any specialized training to prepare your SCSEP participants for their CSAs?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to Question I3]

2. Please complete the following table on your specialized training activities.

1-Topic of Training	2-Training Provider	3-Credentials Earned	4-Mode (Check all that apply)	5-Participation Requirements
q1 Occupational/ technical skills – specify occupation: ___________ q2 Basic education/literacy skills q3 English as a Second Language q4 Professional/workplace skills q5 Digital/computer skills q6 Financial literacy skills q7 Other – please specify:____	q1 My organization q2 National grantee q3 Community college q4 Local workforce development board or American Job Center q5 Adult education provider (adult basic education/literacy, English language literacy) q6 Other community-based organization than listed q7 Employer q8 For-profit training provider q9 Other, please specify: ____	q1 Certificate of completion q2 Digital badge or other micro-credential q3 Third-party industry certification q4 Other – please specify:____	q1 In-person classroom, group session(s) q2 In-person classroom, one-on-one session(s) q3 Online or virtual training, self-paced q4 Online or virtual training, group sessions q5 Training documents sent to participant for completion q6 Other – please specify:____	q1 Training is required for all SCSEP participants q2 Training is required for only some SCSEP participants q3 Training is optional for SCSEP participants q4 Other – please specify:____
[Note to programmer: Allow for up to 10 training topics]

3. Does your organization provide On-the-Job Experience (OJE) opportunities to your SCSEP participants?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No; If no, please describe why not _____ [Skip to Question I9]

4. How many SCSEP participants did you provide an OJE to during the last completed program year?

_____ participants

5. What are the weekly minimum and maximum hours SCSEP participants can participate in an OJE?

____ minimum hours ____ maximum hours

6. What are the minimum and maximum weeks SCSEP participants can participate in an OJE?

____ minimum weeks ____ maximum weeks

7. How does your organization pay OJE wages? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ SCSEP pays 100% of wages directly for up to 12 weeks

q₂ SCSEP reimburses employer for up to 50% of wages for up to 12 weeks

q₃ SCESP reimburses employer for up to 100% of wages for up to 4 weeks

q₄ Other, specify: ___________________________

8. What is contained in your OJE contracts? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Skills and benchmarks that participant will attain during the OJE

q₂ Hours per week including any hours at the CSA or in classroom training

q₃ A stipulation that the employer will hire the participant at the end of the OJE if the skills and benchmarks are met

q₄ A timeline for skills attainment and hiring

q₅ Wage amount and payment model

q₆ Who will cover workers’ compensation

q₇ Other, specify: ___________________________ [Note to programmer: permit up to 10 additional items]

9. Is there training (other than specialized training or OJE) that your organization provides or helps SCSEP participants access?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to I11]

10. Please complete the following table on your other training activities.

1-Topic of Training	2-Training Provider	3-Credentials Earned	4-Mode (Check all that apply)	5-Timing of Training (Check all that apply)
q1 Occupational/ technical skills – specify occupation: ___________ q2 Basic education/literacy skills q3 English as a Second Language q4 Professional/workplace skills q5 Digital/computer skills q6 Financial literacy skills q7 Other – please specify:____	q1 My organization q2 National grantee q3 Community college q4 Local workforce development board or American Job Center q5 Adult education provider (adult basic education/literacy, English language literacy) q6 Other community-based organization than listed q7 Employer q8 For-profit training provider q9 Other, please specify: ____	q1 Certificate of completion q2 Digital badge or other micro-credential q3 Third-party industry certification q4 Other – please specify:____	q1 In-person classroom, group session(s) q2 In-person classroom, one-on-one session(s) q3 Online or virtual training, self-paced q4 Online or virtual training, group sessions q5 Training documents sent to participant for completion q6 Other – please specify:____	q1 Occurs prior to CSA q2 Occurs during CSA q3 Occurs prior to unsubsidized job q4 Other – please specify:____
[Note to programmer: Allow for up to 10 training topics]

11. How effective do you think different types of training that your organization offers or helps SCSEP participants access have helped SCSEP participants succeed in their CSA?

Training Type	Not effective at all (1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	Highly effective (5)
Occupational/technical skills
Basic education/literacy skills
English as a Second Language
Professional/workplace skills
Digital/computer skills
Financial literacy skills
Other – please specify: _______________________

12. How effective do you think different types of training your organization offers or helps SCSEP participants access have helped SCSEP participants obtain unsubsidized employment?

Training Type	Not effective at all (1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	Highly effective (5)
Occupational/technical skills
Basic education/literacy skills
English as a Second Language
Professional/workplace skills
Digital/computer skills
Financial literacy skills
Other – please specify: _______________________

13. How effective do you think various delivery modes for training are for teaching SCSEP participants new skills?

Training Type	Not effective at all (1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	Highly effective (5)	Did not use type of training
In-person classroom, group setting
In-person classroom, one-on-one setting
Online or virtual training, individual self-paced/directed
Online or virtual training, group setting
Hybrid training (combination of in-person and online/virtual)
Training documents sent to participant for completion
Other – please specify: _______________________

14. What types of training have your organization or partners not been able to offer that would help your SCSEP participants succeed? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Occupational/technical skills

q₂ Basic education/literacy skills

q₃ English as a Second Language

q₄ Professional/workplace skills

q₅ Digital/computer skills

q₆ Financial literacy skills

q₇ Other – please specify: _______________________

15. Please describe any changes to participant training outside of CSA in the past three years that you think have been an improvement or a success. __________________________ [open ended]

Section J. SCSEP Supportive Services

1. Please complete the following table on supportive services provided (directly or through partners) to SCSEP participants for the most recently completed program year.

1-Type of Supportive Service	2-Is this service made available for SCSEP Participants (1-Yes; 2-No)	3-In the last PY, about what percentage of SCSEP participants received this service?	4-Is this service provided directly by your organization or through referral to another organization?	5-If referred to another organization, which type of organization provides the service?	6-How would you rate the importance of the service in supporting successful participation in SCSEP (1-5 from not important at all to very important)
Free/reduced rate transportation
Assistance obtaining healthcare and health insurance
Food assistance
Housing/homeless services
Veteran benefits/services
Child or dependent care
Training or other materials in other languages
Vocational rehabilitation services
Mental healthcare/counseling
Financial coaching/planning
Personal care (clothing, hair, beauty) to prepare for workplace
Mentoring
Provision of technology and equipment for online training or remote work (e.g., broadband access, laptop loaner)
Other, please specify: ______________________

Note: Coding by column for programmer:

1-Pre-loaded list of support services

2-Enter Yes or No

3-Enter the number of SCSEP participants receiving the support service the past program year (i.e., either directly from the SCSEP subgrantee or via referral).

4-Enter whether the subgrantee refers SCSEP participants to other agencies/organizations for the specific service (versus provides the support directly for participants) – coding: 1-Provided by subgrantee with SCSEP funds; 2-Provided by subgrantee with funds other than SCSEP; 3-Referral to another organization; 4-Other – please specify:____

5-Enter what organization typically provide the supportive service: 1-SCSEP program; 2-Host Agency; 3-Workforce Development Agency/WIOA; 4-Community Colleges; 5-Basic Education/Literacy Provider; 6-Veterans agency, 7- Homeless agency, 8-Agency on Aging, 9-Other – please specify:____

6-Enter rating: 1-Very Important, 2-Important, 3-Somewhat Important, 4-Not Important

2. How have your supportive services changed in the last three years?

q₁ Support services have remained consistent over the last three years

q₂ Support services offered have increased over the last three years

q₃ Support services offered have decreased over the last three years

3. To what degree to you think your organization and your partners have been able to meet the support service needs of your SCSEP participants?

q₁ All the time

q₂ Sometimes

q₃ Rarely

q₄ Never

4. What challenges have you faced in providing adequate support services? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Lack of funding

q₂ Lack of partners that provide support services

q₃ Change(s) in participant needs

q₄ Restrictions on allowable support services

q₅ Other – please specify: ____

5. Please describe any changes to support services in the past three years that you think have been an improvement or a success. __________________________ [open ended]

Section K. SCSEP Participant Job Placement Services

1. Over the past three program years, what percentage of participants have exited the program into an unsubsidized job?

q₁ Program Year XX:____%

q₂ Program Year XX:____%

q₃ Program Year XX:____%

2. On average, for the those placed in an unsubsidized job during the last completed program year, how many months after enrollment did it take to place a SCSEP participant in an unsubsidized job? ______months after SCSEP enrollment

3. During the past program year, what percentage of SCSEP participants reached 48 months in their CSAs without being placed in an unsubsidized job? ____%

4. During the past program year, what percentage of SCSEP participants reached 27 months in their CSAs without being placed in an unsubsidized job? ____%

5. During the past program year, were any SCSEP participants hired into a permanent unsubsidized job by their host agency?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

6. During the past program year, were any SCSEP participants hired into a permanent unsubsidized job by your organization?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

7. To what extent does responsibility for finding an unsubsidized job rest with the participant versus the SCSEP program?

q₁ Participant is responsible for identifying job openings and securing an unsubsidized job

q₂ Responsibility is primarily with the participant, but the SCSEP program helps out

q₃ Responsibility is equally shared between participant and SCSEP program

q₄ Responsibility is primarily with SCSEP program, but participant plays a role

q₅ SCSEP program is responsible for identifying job openings and placing participants in unsubsidized jobs

8. What types of assistance does the SCSEP program (either directly or through other partners) make available to help participants find and secure an unsubsidized job and which types of assistance do you rate most helpful? [Check all that apply.]

1-Type of Job Search/Placement Assistance	2-Is this service made available for SCSEP participants (1-Yes; 2-No)	3-Is this service provided directly by your organization or through referral to another organization?	4-How would you rate the importance for successfully helping participants find and secure an unsubsidized job (1-5 from not important at all to very important)
Provision of job leads
Help with resume
Help completing job applications
Help preparing for job interviews
Referral to/attendance at job readiness workshop
Referral to/attendance at job club
Referral to American Job Center (AJC)
Other – please specify __________

Note: Coding by column for programmer:

Coding for column 3 is as follows: 1-Provided by subgrantee with SCSEP funds; 2-Provided by subgrantee with funds other than SCSEP; 3-Referral to another organization; 4-Other – please specify:____

Coding for column 4 is as follows: 1-Very Helpful, 2-Helpful, 3-Somewhat Helpful, 4-Not Helpful

9. Do any of the following partners help with providing job search training and placement assistance to SCSEP participants served by your organization? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ AJCs/workforce development boards

q₂ Aging agencies

q₃ Vocational rehabilitation providers

q₄ Disability networks

q₅ Basic education and literacy providers

q₆ Community colleges

q₇ Host agencies

q₈ Veterans-serving agencies/groups

q₉ Other SCSEP grantees/subgrantees

q₁₀ Other, please specify: _________

10. To what extent does enrollment in WIOA help SCSEP participants served by your organization to find and secure an unsubsidized job?

q₁ Very helpful

q₂ Helpful

q₃ Somewhat helpful

q₄ Not helpful

q₅ Not applicable (do not refer participants to WIOA)

11. What are the ways in which SCSEP participants served by your organization are helped to identify and secure job openings? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Search of online job listings by staff/participants

q₂ Having participants attend job fairs

q₃ Working with recruiting/staffing companies

q₄ Directing staff/participants to contact employers to identify job openings

q₅ Referral to the AJC resource room (for customer self-services)

q_6. Referral of participants to AJC/WIOA for staff-assisted services

q₇ Registration with Wagner-Peyser/Employment Services

q_8. Posting of job openings in notebook/billboards at SCSEP program office

q₉ Provision of real-time labor market information

q₁₀ Other, please specify:______

12. How does your organization monitor job search efforts of participants? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Regular in-person meetings with SCSEP participants to discuss job search efforts

q₂ Participants maintain job search log that staff can check periodically

q₃ Other – please specify: ______

q₄ We do not monitor participant job search efforts

13. What are the most common challenges encountered by your organization and partners in placing SCSEP participants into unsubsidized jobs? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Lack of appropriate openings in locality/region

q₂ Lack of employer interest in hiring older workers (i.e., age discrimination)

q₃ Potential racial or ethnic bias by employers

q₄ Lack of job search skills on the part of participants

q₅ Lack of participant interest/effort in searching for a job

q₆ Overcoming participant comfort with CSA position

q₇ Participant fear of rejection during job search process

q₈ Participant concerns/fear of job discrimination

q₉ Lack of participant job skills or work experience

q₁₀ Improvements to basic academic or language skills needed

q₁₁ Lack of job- or work-readiness skills (e.g., professional communication, critical thinking, cultural competency)

q₁₂ Lack of digital skills

q₁₃ Other, please specify:____

14. Does your organization have specific approaches/strategies to address age and racial discrimination that older workers might face in the job placement process?

q₁ Yes—If yes, please briefly describe: ____

q₂ No

15. Please describe any changes to participant job placement services in the past three years that you think have been an improvement or a success. __________________________ [open ended]

Section L. SCSEP Program Coordination with Other Partners and Other Programs Operated by the Subgrantee

1. Please complete the following table with regard to program coordination/collaboration with other agencies/organizations (excluding host agencies)? [Check all that apply.]

1-Type of Partnering Organization	2-Does your SCSEP program partner with this type of agency? (Yes/No)	3-If yes, please rate how important this partner is for your SCSEP program?	4-Which of the following roles/services does this partner serve/provide?
AJCs/workforce development boards
Aging agencies
Vocational rehabilitation providers
Disability networks
Basic education and literacy providers
Community colleges
Veterans-serving agencies/groups
Other SCSEP grantees/subgrantees
Public libraries
Other, please specify: _________

Note to programmer:

Coding for column 3: 1-Very important; 2-Important; 3-somewhat important.

Coding for column 4:

1- Involved with participant recruitment/referral

2- Involved with recruitment of new hosts/CSA positions

3- Involved with participant intake/assessment

4- Provide participant case management services

5- Provide supportive services

6- Involved with CSA placement

7- Involved in monitoring CSA placement or mentoring participant involved in CSA

8- Provide education or training services

9- Involved with participant job search/placement

10- Other – please specify: -___

2. What are the advantages to coordination/collaboration with other organizations/partners for your organization? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Ability to offer a wider range of services targeted on participant needs

q₂ Reduction in barriers to participants accessing needed services

q₃ Increased knowledge of staff of services available at other agencies

q₄ Enhanced ability to place SCSEP participants in CSAs or jobs

q₅ Increased operational efficiency/ability to focus on own organization’s expertise

q₆ Enhanced ability to recruit and/or serve mandated target group/subpopulations

q₇ Enhanced participant outcomes

q₈ Other, please specify:____

q₉ None of the above

3. What are the disadvantages to coordination/collaboration with other organizations for your organization? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Staff time and effort involved in planning and sustaining coordination

q₂ Loss of autonomy in decision-making

q₃ Need to resolve interagency conflicts

q₄ Need to develop/adjust operational procedures, participant flow, and/or information systems

q₅ Burdens of additional forms/paperwork

q₆ Inability to get other agencies to fulfill plans/agreements to collaborate

q₇ Difficulties developing/maintaining lines of authority

q₈ Incompatible data systems

q₉ Other, please specify:___

q₁₀ None of the above

4. Are SCSEP participants referred to other programs or funding sources within your organization?

q₁ Yes – please specify:________

q₂ No

5. Please describe any changes to or new strategies for developing and enhancing partnerships in the past three years that you think have been an improvement or a success. __________________________ [open ended]

Section M. COVID Effects on the SCSEP Program

1. Did your organization suspend enrolling new SCSEP participants as a result of the pandemic?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to Question M4]

2. In what month/year did your organization halt enrolling new SCSEP participants?____/___ (MM/YYYY)

3. Has your organization started again enrolling new SCSEP participants?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No [Skip to Question M4]

M3a. When did you start enrolling new participants again under your subgrant? _______ (MM/YYYY)

4. What was your SCSEP participant enrollments under your subgrant at the following times?

1. In February 2020 (just prior to the onset of the pandemic):____ participants were enrolled

2. At the lowest point in SCSEP enrollments: ___ participants in ___/____ (MM/YY)

3. Currently: ___ participants in ___/____ (MM/YY)

5. Were SCSEP participants whose CSAs were suspended moved temporarily to sick leave so they could continue to receive wages?

q₁ Yes

q₂ No

6. What challenges did SCSEP participants face during the pandemic? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Participants were unable go on-site to CSAs due to host agency’s COVID restrictions

q₂ Participants were unwilling to go on-site to CSA due to health concerns around COVID

q₃ Participants were unable to go on-site to CSAs due to host agency’s concerns for SCSEP participant due to age

q₄ Participants experienced challenges with transportation

q₅ Participants had increased need for supportive services

q₆ Participants had increased difficulty obtaining supportive services needed to participate

q₇ Participants faced difficulties securing jobs because of fewer available job openings

q₈ Participants experienced increased social isolation

q₉ Other, please specify:________

7. To date, to what extent did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the number of hosts sponsoring CSAs?

q₁ Resulted in more hosts sponsoring CSAs

q₂ Resulted in fewer hosts sponsoring CSAs

q₃ There has been no effect on the number of hosts sponsoring CSAs

q₄ Unsure/Don’t Know

8. What were the greatest challenges for your SCSEP program during the pandemic ? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Lack of older workers to enroll in your SCSEP program

q₂ Loss/turnover of SCSEP staff

q₃ Need to temporarily suspend CSAs

q₄ Loss of existing host agencies that had been providing CSAs

q₅ Inability to recruit new host agencies to provide CSAs

q₆ Challenges finding new CSAs or shifting existing CSAs to allow for remote work

q₇ Staff trying to conduct eligibility and assessment processes remotely

q₈ Older workers concerned with negative health impacts to participating in the program or placements (i.e., contracting COVID)

q₉ Increased workload of SCSEP staff

q₁₀ Providing participants with technology needed to engage in program activities remotely

q₁₁ Inability of staff to meet one-on-one with SCSEP participants

q₁₂ Challenges working with partners due to shifting priorities and resources during the pandemic

q₁₃ Other – please specify: _____

q₁₄ Other – please specify: _____

9. What were the successes your SCSEP program experienced during the pandemic? [Check all that apply.]

q₁ Engaged participants remotely in recruiting, eligibility, and enrollment activities

q₂ Promoted remote access by addressing technology and digital skill needs, or offering services remotely

q₃ Expanded or modified supportive services provided to participants

q₄ Developed new training activities for SCSEP participants for CSA placements and unsubsidized work placements

q₅ Developed new or expanding existing host agency partnerships (to create remote opportunities for participants or to help facilitate a return to in-person CSAs)

q₆ Promoted or connected participants to unsubsidized employment opportunities (for example, through virtual job fairs, connecting participants to pandemic-related work, or describing emerging opportunities for remote jobs)

q₇ Supported changing service delivery through hiring ( new grantee, subgrantee or local-office staff) or provided new support and training for staff (including case management and participant monitoring)

q₈ Implemented strategies to mitigate racial inequities (in access to services, broadband, technology or other inequities) observed during the COVID-19 pandemic

q₉ Other – please specify: _____

10. Since the onset of the pandemic (in March 2020) through to today, to what extent do you feel the pandemic has changed SCSEP program operations and service delivery?

q₁ Substantial change

q₂ Some change

q₃ Program unchanged

q₄ Unsure/Don’t Know

11. As a result of the pandemic, did your organization implement any new strategies/approaches that you have sustained?

q₁ Yes – please briefly discuss:____

q₂ No

Section N. Overall Successes and Challenges

1. What are your top three successes in implementing SCSEP over the past three years?

q₁ Success #1 ______________________________ [open ended]

q₂ Success #2 ______________________________ [open ended]

q₃ Success #3 ______________________________ [open ended]

2. What are your top three challenges in implementing SCSEP over the past three years?

q₁ Challenge #1 ______________________________ [open ended]

q₂ Challenge #2 ______________________________ [open ended]

q₃ Challenge #3 ______________________________ [open ended]

3. Please share any other aspects of your experiences implementing SCSEP that you would like us to know and we have not asked you about.

_____________________________ [open ended]

Thank you for participating in this survey!

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