REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 9, 2021
FROM
MARLENA SESSIONS, Director, Workforce Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Designation of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board as the America’s Job Center of California Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services Provider
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve the submission of the application to the State of California Workforce Development Board for the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board to be the America’s Job Center of California Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services Provider under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, for a term of four years from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025.
2. Authorize the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to submit a request letter to the State of California Workforce Development Board seeking designation of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board as the America’s Job Center of California Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services Provider.
(Presenter: Marlena Sessions, Director, Workforce Development Department, 387-9862)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Funding is fully provided through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The WIOA sub-grant Revenue Agreement in the amount of $5,654,633 was approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on October 6, 2020 (Item No. 44), and includes funding to provide career services in San Bernardino County (County). Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Workforce Development Department’s (WDD) 2020-21 budget (SAP Cost Center 5712252260) and will be included in subsequent years’ departmental budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On June 8, 2020, the Employment Development Department (EDD) released direction regarding the selection of the America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services Provider (Provider) under WIOA. In order for a local workforce development board to be designated as the AJCC Provider, an application must be submitted to the Governor by the Chief Elected Official of the County (Chairman of the Board of Supervisors) and the local board chair of the Workforce Development Board. The State of California Workforce Development Board (State) will then either recommend approval or denial of the AJCC Provider application to the Governor, no later than May 1, 2021, for a four-year period ending June 30, 2025.
The Governor shall approve the application if the local workforce board can demonstrate that it has:
• Experience providing career services;
• Met performance accountability measures for Program Years (PY) 2018-19 and 2019-20;
• Proven to be effective and efficient in providing such services as evidenced by testimonials from customers and partner agencies; and
• Provided a statement from the Chief Elected Official of the County requesting that the local board serve as the AJCC Provider.
With regard to the first and third requirements, over the last 19 years, operating under the initial Workforce Investment Act and, subsequently, WIOA, the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) has developed a successful, effective and efficient program of providing employment services throughout the County. Currently, the WDB operates three AJCCs, located in the High Desert, East Valley, and West Valley. WDD staff provide career services, including one-on-one assessment, employment workshops, job development, search and placement assistance, and vocational and on-the-job training services. Furthermore, WDD’s Business Services Unit serves the business community to support the retention of jobs and develop employment opportunities for the customers who use AJCC services. Businesses have access to customized recruitment services, specialized job fairs, labor market information, customized training, lay-off aversion services, and an access to a large pool of screened job applicants through the AJCC.
WIOA requires AJCC Providers to be procured by the WDB every four years. In the past, the WDB has developed and executed upon workforce development strategies, made investments in supporting labor market growth, and been central in forging partnerships throughout the workforce development landscape. A local board, such as WDB, may be designated as the AJCC Provider with the approval of the Chief Elected Official of the County and the Governor. On February 14, 2017 (Item No. 73), the Board approved the submission of the application to the State for the WDB to serve as the AJCC Provider. The Governor approved WDB’s application and since May 23, 2019 the WDB has served as the AJCC Provider.
The experienced case managers/advisors, business services, and other staff of the AJCC are vital to the continued success of the WIOA program in San Bernardino County. Allowing the WDB to continue as the AJCC Provider provides positive, long term impacts on the economic development and prosperity of San Bernardino County.
As for the second requirement, the performance accountability measures compare the customers who have exited the program after receiving services, including the rate of those who have gained employment, the employment retention rate, and the average earnings. For PY’s 2018-19 and 2019-20, the WDB has met or exceeded all WIOA performance measures while serving as the AJCC Provider.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Akins, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 7, 2021; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on January 14, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-4342) on January 15, 2021.