National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) Hosted the First Graduation of the Digital Skills Training Program in 2024.
January 18, 2024
January 18, 2024, Seattle, WA. National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) hosted the first graduation of its Digital Skills Training Program in 2024.
Brent Parton, Acting Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor, extended heartfelt congratulations and presented certificates to the elders in recognition of their remarkable achievements. Mr. Parton emphasized the program's significant role in enhancing the employability and overall quality of life for Asian elders, underscoring the U.S. Department of Labor's commitment to supporting and empowering older adults in their pursuit of meaningful opportunities.
Clayton S. Fong, NAPCA's President and CEO, expressed, "In light of the tremendous enthusiasm generated by the initial two digital skills training sessions that commenced in December 2022, we are thrilled to announce the expansion of the program in 2024, aiming to extend its benefits to a larger number of elders. We have incorporated this training into our SCSEP program, and are planning to introduce a Vietnamese class and expand the program to Los Angeles. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my dedicated team for their unwavering commitment and hard work."
Mr. Fong continued, “We extend our special thanks to the offices of Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal and Kim Schrier for delivering congratulations to our elders. We also appreciate the support from Seattle Information Technology, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and Deloitte for supporting this program. Additionally, our thanks go to InterConnection for their assistance in providing our elders with free laptops, enabling them to access continued learning opportunities on the internet.”
NAPCA's Digital Skills Training Program, a 10-week course teaching basic computer skills in Asian languages to elders with limited English proficiency, has ignited a newfound appreciation for technology among its graduates. Ms. Li, a graduate and a participant in NAPCA's SCSEP program, shared her story of using the internet skills acquired in the training to help fellow elders access essential social benefits at her workplace.
NAPCA is committed to helping Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) elders overcome barriers and improve their chances of gaining the type of employment they deserve. And by providing opportunities for access to digital skills training, NAPCA believes it can maximize their job prospects and quality of life.
For more information about NAPCA's Digital Skills Training Program and upcoming sessions, please contact NAPCA at:
English: (800) 336-2722
Chinese Mandarin: (800) 683-7427 Cantonese: (800) 582-4218
Korean: (800) 582-4259 Vietnamese: (800) 582-4336
About NAPCA
NAPCA is a national non-profit organization devoted to educate and empower the AANHPI community as the nation’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to the dignity, well-being, and quality of life of all AANHPI elders.
About SCSEP
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) at the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is a federally funded initiative that provides job training and employment opportunities for low-income Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who are 55 years and older. The program aims to improve their economic status and promote their social engagement by matching them with community service positions at local non-profit organizations and government agencies. Through SCSEP, participants can acquire new skills, build their resumes, and enhance their job prospects, while also contributing to their communities.
Our 2023 in Numbers
14,202
Calls To Helpline
In response to COVID-19, NAPCA launched its free 1-800 Multilingual Phone Helpline for older adults and caregivers in March 2020. From March 2020 to June 2022, the Helpline received over 14,202 calls from 10+ states. NAPCA’s Helpline counselors provide in-language support for COVID-19 Vaccine and COVID-19 emergency resources, Social Security, Medicare, general public benefits and more. NAPCA’s Helpline was featured by QUARTZ and covered by NBC News.
1,047
Older Adults
In 2020, NAPCA’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), in partnership with the US Department of Labor and over 400+ community based organizations, placed over 1047 older adults in non-profits and government agencies across the country. NAPCA worked with them to develop skills training to find employment, and quickly shifted to a virtual format to keep participants engaged and paid throughout the pandemic.
162
Older Adults
The Senior Environmental Employment program (SEE) placed 162 working older adults in the Environmental Protection Agency. Of these, over 50% of the participants were age 70+.
$56,000,000
Award
NAPCA was one of 20 national non-profit organizations to receive a $14 million award per year, totaling $56 million to continue operating the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) over the next 4 years. SCSEP participants will operate in 59 counties in 7 states.
4,000
AAPI Individuals
NAPCA is partnering with the University of California San Francisco to develop the nation’s first research registry for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and is actively recruiting 4,000 individuals. Learn about why this is important: CARE research registry.
73,780
Website Views
The NAPCA website received almost 74,000 views throughout 2022. Of these, our National Resource Center for Older Adults and Caregivers and related resource pages received over 27,000 views. These include multilingual state-by-state resources, toolkits and guides for caregivers and organizations, and time sensitive resources around the 2020 Census and Presidential election.
