AmeriCorps Invests $5 Million to Support Older American Workforce Development
Summary
Five organizations to engage nearly 300 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in community-based projects to grow their career skills and employment opportunitiesWASHINGTON, D.C. AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, awarded nearly $5 million to five AmeriCorps Seniors grantee organizations in Illinois, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee to address economic opportunity and build pathways to employment for older adults.These grants are the second year of a program to enhance opportunities for adults ages 55+ to participate in national service activities, improve their communities and gain the skills needed to transition back into the workforce. Designed to be sustainable and replicable, these programs are intended to extend beyond the period of AmeriCorps grant funding. Public Health AmeriCorps is helping meet public health needs of local communities by advancing health equity and increasing access to care while creating new paths to public health-related career s through a $400 million investment from the American Rescue Plan Act.The funded programs will provide training and/or certification in a variety of focus areas including healthy futures, economic opportunity and education, among others. "To address the public health workforce shortage and bring new individuals to the field, we are supporting diverse pathways to engage more individuals of all ages, said AJ Pearlman, director, Public Health AmeriCorps. Older Americans can bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to public health, and we are excited to partner with AmeriCorps Seniors to leverage their expertise to improve the health and well-being of our communities while creating pathways to careers in public health.AmeriCorps continues to invest in national service across all 50 states and US territories, support the nations COVID-19 recovery, support economic empowerment, and unite people through national and community service.