June 22, 2000

Honorable Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles
383 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Dear Supervisors:

APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF FY 2000-01
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT DISLOCATED WORKER
RAPID RESPONSE FUNDS (ALL DISTRICTS) (3 VOTE)

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD:

PURPOSE OF RECOMMENDED ACTION:

This letter requests your Board to accept an initial allocation of $650,000 from the State EDD to conduct a Rapid Response program to assist displaced workers. Upon State notification we will apply for up to $1.6 million in Workforce Investment Act Dislocated Worker Rapid Response funds for FY 2000-01. We are also requesting authorization to continue to use the eleven vendors listed on the attachment to provide re-employment workshops to assist displaced workers. These vendors were approved by your Board on June 8, 1999.

JUSTIFICATION:

The County of Los Angeles has been designated by the State as a Workforce Investment Area for the purpose of administering and operating employment and
Honorable Board of Supervisors
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training programs under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). One of the programs under WIA is Rapid Response to provide services to dislocated workers. We are requesting authorization for a six-month time extension to continue to use the existing vendors to ensure there is no interruption of services to the community.

The operation of the WIA Rapid Response program will meet the County’s contractual obligation with the State. Services include WIA orientations to advise dislocated workers how to access the services available through the One Stop Centers. Outplacement workshops are provided to employees of companies facing closure or mass layoff. These services are provided by CSS vendors and include career transition, resume preparation, job search techniques, interview skills, entrepreneurial opportunities, and financial planning. These workshops are also offered at job fairs throughout the community.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The WIA Rapid Response funds provide for all administrative and countywide overhead costs. Therefore, there is no impact on County General funds.

We were advised by EDD that the State plans to include $650,000 in our WIA Title I program funds for Rapid Response services at this time. This is one-half of the amount provided in FY 1999-00. These bridge funds will ensure continuation of services after July 1, 2000. At a later date, the State will issue instructions for completion of a zero-based budget and a program application for Rapid Response services for FY 2000-01.

FINANCING:

The County’s FY 2000-01 WIA Title I Rapid Response program will be financed by the State grant award. Of the initial $650,000 allocated, a total of $200,000 will be set aside for the vendors listed in the attachment to provide re-employment workshops for displaced workers on an as needed basis. The remaining, $450,000 will be retained by CSS for administrative costs and for direct provision of outplacement orientations.

FACTS AND PROVISIONS/LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:

The Rapid Response vendors are reimbursed on an as needed basis for workshops and other seminars based upon negotiated rates which take into account the type of service provided and number of persons served.

The Rapid Response Vendor Agreement to be used for this allocation was prepared by County Counsel and has been previously approved by Board.
Honorable Board of Supervisors
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The Workforce Investment Board approved our recommendation at their June 8, 2000 meeting.

CONTRACTING PROCESS:

CSS will execute agreements for the 2000-01 program year with the eleven vendors listed on the attachment, who’s performance has been rated highly satisfactory. Vendors were selected through a competitive Request for Quote process initiated FY 1998-99, which will remain an open RFQ under WIA.

IMPACT ON CURRENT SERVICES:

The grant award will provide for the continuation of Rapid Response services to persons subject to lay-offs due to downsizing or plant closure. Department staff will provide outplacement orientations. The vendors provide re-employment workshops on career transition, resume preparation, job search techniques, interviewing skills, financial planning and entrepreneurial opportunities. Rapid Response services are provided on an as-needed basis upon notification of mass lay-off or plant closure. To ensure client satisfaction, we provide the company with a list of our vendors and the client chooses the service provider.

Respectfully submitted,

STEPHANIE KLOPFLEISCH
Director

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Attachment (I)

c. David E. Janssen
Lloyd W. Pellman
Violet Varona-Lukens
J. Tyler McCauley

Attachment I

Workforce Investment Act
2000-01 Rapid Response Vendors

Career Planning Center

Foster Assessment Center & Testing Service

Jewish Vocational Services

Lee Hecht Harrison, Inc.

Pacifico Employment Agency

ProActive Institute

ProPath, Inc.

Rudolph Dew & Associates, Inc.

Tomkinson & Associates, Inc.

TTG Consultants

Workplace Solutions

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