Click links to jump down to:

Employment & Volunteer Programs

The Department of Elder Affairs (DEA) and its partners participate in a wide variety of programs that assist older Iowans in finding work and volunteer opportunities.

Employment Programs

• Senior Internship Program (SIP)- SIP is a work-training program authorized under Title V of the Older Americans Act, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, and administered by the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs. SIP helps low income job seekers age 55 and older gain the skills and paid work experience needed to transition into permanent, unsubsidized jobs. While in temporary assignments with nonprofit organizations, intern/trainees help maintain and deliver key community services. Employers benefit from the following SIP services: pre-placement screening & assessment, hiring incentives, job placement services, and follow-up services. There are four SIP project sites, covering 49 counties in Iowa.
  
  The Senior Community Service Employment Program Strategic Plan for 2008-2011 is being placed on the Department of Elder Affairs' Website for public review. This document seeks the advice and recommendations of organizations and individuals with expertise in older worker issues and those wishing to comment on the strategies, policies and responsibilities of this program. All public comments are welcome and must be directed to Phyllis.Anderson@iowa.gov or to Phyllis Anderson, State Senior Internship Program Coordinator, Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, 510 E. 12th Street, Suite 2, Des Moines, Iowa 50319. Comments will be included in the final copy of the plan which will be submitted to the US Department of Labor no later than June 30, 2008. All comments are due to the Department of Elder Affairs by June 1, 2008 to allow time for incorporation into the final document.
  
  As provided under the Older Americans Act sec. 503(a)(1), the State Plan must include a four-year strategy for the statewide provision of community service employment and other authorized activities for the eligible individuals under the SCSEP. The new State Plan is intended to foster both short-term and long-term coordination among the various national and state SCSEP grantees and sub-recipients operating within the State of Iowa and to facilitate the efforts of key stakeholders, including the State and local boards under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), to work collaboratively through a participatory process to accomplish the SCSEP goals. This document is a draft plan that responds to US DoL Training & Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 16-07. The TEGL can be read in its entirety at http://wdr.doleta.gov.directives/TEGL16-07.pdf. It is open to public review and comment until June 1, 2008.
  

• Older Worker Initiative - The Older Worker Initiative is a joint project between Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, the AARP and members of the Governor’s Task Force on the Mature Worker held six regional forums during September, 2005, to collect information about the attitudes of employers in Iowa toward older workers.  The forums were held around the state from Sept. 13-21, with approximately 250 employers, human resource professionals, state agency staff members, legislators and academics attending.  A variety of strategies and needs about the employment of older Iowans were shared during the forms. 
  
  Phase two of the project was to convene a State Conference on the 50+ Workforce.  This conference, held on May 24, 2006, presented opportunities for the key stakeholders to review the issues that were identified as affecting the opportunities for mature workers.  The conference addressed the following needs and concerns:
  a.  Defined ways to highlight and build upon efforts already underway in Iowa to create additional workforce resources for its citizens and its businesses.
  b.  Raised the state level visibility, interest, and recognition of mature workers within the media and among opinion leaders.
  c. Convened stakeholders to review what is currently being done around the state and to report out what further can be done to enhance these offerings to mature workers.
  View the text of the full report submitted to the Governor’s Office on July 26, 2006.

• Older Workers Employment Partnership -
  Mission Statement: "Supporting older workers in full engagement in Iowa's economy"
  Participants: The partnership consists of state department representatives, Human Resource Managers from businesses, and employment program representatives.
  Partnership Role: Explore ways to retain and expand opportunities for Iowa's pool of mature workers by:
  
  • Identifying the needs and desires of both mature workers and employers
  • Creating a bridge between mature workers and employers
  • Impacting policies both public and private that provide benefit to older, mature workers
  
  Iowa's Outstanding Older Worker: Each year Iowa's Older Worker Employment Partnership selects Iowa's outstanding older worker. This individual is recognized at the Outstanding Older Worker Awards Luncheon, where the accomplishments of all Iowa's outstanding older workers are celebrated. This luncheon will be scheduled later in the year so please check back to this website as the selection date nears! Iowa's Outstanding Older Worker also represents our state at the Experience Works, Inc. Prime Time Awards in Washington, DC, a nationwide celebration of older worker accomplishments.
  
  If you know of someone who is an Outstanding Older Worker and wish to nominate them to receive recognition for their accomplishments, please fill out and return a nomination form. The eligibility guidelines and the forms are available at:
  http://www.experienceworks.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Primetime_nom .
  Employers are welcome to participate in the meetings of Iowa's Outstanding
  Older Worker Employment Partnership. For the next meeting date and agenda, please contact chairperson, Phyllis Anderson, Phyllis.Anderson@iowa.gov, or call (515) 725-3323.

• Iowa Workforce Navigator Program - Iowa Workforce Development, on behalf of a collaborative partnership with state agencies, has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration to create Navigator positions for Iowa's Workforce Development Centers.
  Known as disability program navigators, these individuals partner with workforce agencies in working to enhance their ability to facilitate quality employment outcomes for area job seekers who are disabled.
  
  According to the 2000 US Census, Iowans with disabilities have an unemployment rate that exceeds 34%, but most would prefer to be pursuing a career. Disability program navigators do not duplicate services offered by agencies supporting local workforce services, but support job seekers with information and connection with service programs that will provide career enhancement.
  
  Iowa Workforce Development meets with State agency partners, including the Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Department for the Blind, Iowa Division of Persons with Disabilities, the Iowa Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council, Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Department of Human Services and Iowa Department of Elder Affairs to plan and support the implementation of the program.

For further information on the above employment programs, contact 1-800-532-3213 or email Phyllis.Anderson@iowa.gov.

Back to Top

• Resident Advocate Committee (RAC) Program- RAC Volunteers are appointed to serve as advocates for residents of nursing facilities in their community. The RAC program is administered by the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. For more information on the RAC Program, visit the link above.

• Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)- Trained volunteers are needed in most counties to assist older people with medical bills, insurance claims, and insurance questions. For more information about volunteering and to learn about this program, visit the link above on the Living & Health Programs page.

• Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)- This program identifies and addresses priority community needs through the mobilization of adult volunteers age 55 and over. The program recognizes and uses the competence, wisdom and experience of our elders for the benefit of all Iowans. The program serves over 100,000 Iowans through the efforts of 20,000 volunteers. Opportunities include business/community services, education/mentoring services, health/nutrition services, services to older adults, and transportation. To find a program in your area, visit the Senior Corps home page.

Back to Top

Over the years we have had numerous students conduct their internships at the Department of Elder Affairs from the length of a few hours, one day to even one year. Internships are usually for one semester or 120 hours in duration. The State of Iowa offers a benefit to students that volunteer 120 hours - the eligibility to be considered for state employment. Students have completed projects on elder abuse, legal assistance-legislation, case management, the annual Governor's Conference on Aging, elder housing, design of the department's brochure, local ombudsman programs, employment, and nursing home involuntary transfers to name a few.

For questions or additional information about an internship contact, Student Intern Coordinator, Minnie Mallard at Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, Jessie M. Parker Building-East, 510 E. 12th Street-Suite 2, Des Moines, IA 50319-9025, 515-725-3322 or minnie.mallard@iowa.gov.

If you are interested in an opportunity as an intern at the department, please fill out the application, attach the requested information and return it to the department.

Back to Top

The Older Worker Initiative, a joint project between Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, the AARP and members of the Governor's Task Force on the Mature Worker held six regional forums during September, 2005, to collect information about the attitudes of employers in Iowa toward older workers. Phase two of the project was to convene a State Conference on the 50+ Workforce. This conference, held on May 24, 2006, presented opportunities for the key stakeholders to review the issues that were identified as affecting the opportunities for mature workers.

View the full report submitted to the Governor's Office on July 26, 2006 and the Older Workers in Iowa Profile, released May 2006.