AmeriCorps Seniors is publishing this funding notice with the purpose of creating the AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Senior Demonstration Program to support projects focused on supporting older adults as they seek to secure employment in professional, skilled labor, or para-professional careers. In addition, AmeriCorps Seniors is partnering with Public Health AmeriCorps, which seeks to support projects that address the public health needs of local communities, advance health equity and create pathways to public health careers for older adults.

AmeriCorps’ priorities for this funding opportunity are:

• Support older adults in obtaining permanent employment in skilled labor, professional or paraprofessional careers (for the purpose of this NOFO, professional is defined as “engaged in a specified activity as one’s main paid occupation rather than as a pastime and requires a particular skillset in order to be successful.” Paraprofessional is defined as “specially trained or credentialed employment, in fields such as education, healthcare, engineering, law.”).
• Provide training and/or certification for employment, and supports such as mentorship, coaching, transportation, and other forms of support.
• Provide mentoring and/or coaching in regular increments, including during pre- and post- employment placement.
• Provide a competitive stipend to remove barriers for older adults’ service. If the program model does not include a stipend for beneficiaries, a full explanation must be provided, including how the program recruits, retains, supports volunteers, and a pattern of success.

AmeriCorps Seniors is particularly interested in how applicants will demonstrate for the targeted profession(s), how older adults (adults aged 55+) will be recruited, the type of certification or credential provided, specific period of mentoring and post-job placement follow-up, and how the program reaches success. In addition, please detail service placement description, including how placement connects with training and certification and information about stipends and other supports to remove barriers to service and participation. Finally, ensure the application describes a strategy for incremental check-in at the time of eventual job placement, and a period of time after job placement (minimum one month, six months post, and one year post employment).

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Estimated Total Program Funding: