LA County One-Stop Certification Survey

Since the time that the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) was implemented, Los Angeles County has maintained a formal, structured system for the certification of its one-stops; the WorkSource Centers based on the Malcolm Baldrige principles. At the core of this system is a process for initially certifying centers that were “grandfathered” from the pre-WIA era or were subsequently procured on a competitive basis. In addition, the system includes a process to “recertify” that centers have maintained administrative and service delivery standards adopted by the County’s Workforce Investment Board (WIB).

Over the last few years, questions have arisen with increasing frequency regarding the system, its purpose and its efficacy. Because the certification process requires dedication of significant staff time and resources by WorkSource Centers and the County alike, WIB members, Community and Senior Services (CSS) management and center operators have all expressed concerns about the content and structure of the current system.

The following questions request that you describe challenges presented by the certification and recertification processes, along with benefits that you have experienced as a result of the processes. Please be specific with your recommendations about how the process could be improved.