$50,000 Goes to Seniors Job-Training Program

The Ventura Board of Supervisors awarded more than $50,000 in federal funds to a program that helps train senior citizens for jobs at area nonprofit agencies.

The program offers grants to the nonprofit agencies, such as hospitals and social service centers, to hire lower-income county residents over the age of 55.

The jobs are available through the participating companies and agencies, which are Family Services, Interface: Children, the Fillmore Senior Center, Area Housing Authority of Ventura County, Conejo Valley Senior Concerns, Commission on Human Concerns, Ventura County Library Services, St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Help of Ojai, and the Thousand Oaks Library.

The grants, which range from $4,800 to $12,000, would serve as incentives to for-profit agencies to hire citizens who may otherwise be rejected because of their age.

“Older citizens have found that, even though it’s illegal, there is discrimination against them,” said Sue Tatangelo, the program’s organizer. “This is a chance for seniors to prove that they are reliable, trainable, and they do less job-hopping.”

The nine-year-old program gains the seniors entry to a part-time position paying $5.25 to $7 an hour. After a year, the businesses can keep or cut the position.

Last year, eight of the 10 seniors placed in training positions were rehired.

The job placement program receives its funding through Title V of the federal Older Americans Act. The Board of Supervisors chose to distribute the $56,387 in funds to nine of the 16 agencies that applied.

Most positions are for clerical work.