Over the course of many years, Marc Molea, Chief of Strategic Partnerships at the Ohio Department of Aging, has had a positive impact on VANTAGE Aging. His efforts have proved him to be a true supporter of positive aging through programs and services that help older adults remain independent and active members of their communities.
Mr. Molea has been the catalyst for many successful collaborations in the field of aging. He has brought together agencies and organizations across Ohio for a holistic approach to aging well through a collaborative and innovative approach.
When it comes to VANTAGE, Mr. Molea’s most notable contributions have been towards the Workforce Solutions program. His efforts at the Ohio Department of Aging have secured funds that support VANTAGE’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in 38 Ohio counties.
SCSEP is a job training program for people 55 and older. Its goal is to break the barriers of employment for older adults, such as ageism and skill gaps, and ultimately help them find unsubsidized employment. The result has been in thousands of older adults gaining the skills they needed to find work and financial independence.
Mr. Molea has helped leverage state agencies and associations such as Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Public Libraries, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, and Benefits Bank as well as others to develop a strategic approach to solutions for older Ohio job seekers and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).
He ensured that the SCSEP program and older worker programming was well represented in the Unified State Plan. His strong reputation among the aging community statewide helped connect the dots between SCSEP and other agencies, such as Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, Employment for Seniors, and Ohio Corrections and Reentry.
As the representative of Ohio Department of Aging to the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education, Mr. Molea facilitated the Ohio Scholars Program as a joint effort of ODA and OAGE and was a leader in this program for students in Gerontology throughout the state. Within the Ohio Department of Aging, he has served as a major resource to professionals and practitioners throughout the state in both education and practice.
Mr. Molea is also an advocate of spreading the word about programs that would benefit older adults such as the Healthy U Program, Financial Literacy, and the Free Adult Vision Screening and Eye Watch Training.
“Marc Molea has been an outstanding representative of the Ohio Department of Aging. It has been my pleasure to work with in many different ways over the years,” said Dr. Harvey L. Sterns, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Director and Senior Fellow for the Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology at The University of Akron and VANTAGE Aging Board Member.
“He has been a major leader in the area of older worker training and retraining overseeing this program for many years.” Dr. Sterns continued, “He has been the model of a dedicated professional to the field of aging.”
In 2019, Mr. Molea has been selected for the Positive Aging Award, a special recognition as part of VANTAGE Aging’s Soar Awards. The SOAR Awards recognize people, organizations, and places across Ohio that work towards making life better for older adults. Mr. Molea is being honored for his outstanding efforts in the aging field on May 2 at a special awards gala. To show your support, consider sponsoring the awards or purchasing a table. Buy Tickets
On behalf of VANTAGE Aging and the clients we serve, thank you, Mr. Molea, for your continued support and the work you do for seniors!
Learn more about the Senior Community Service Employment Program for job seekers 55 and older. Get paid job training to reach your employment goals! Call 330-253-4597 to learn more.
*The information in this article is intended solely to provide general information on matters of interest for the personal use of the reader, who accepts full responsibility for its use. This article should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional legal, medical, or other competent advisors.