The One-Stop System

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Inspector General
Office of Audit

THE ONE-STOP SYSTEM MUST CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD READINESS

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We conducted audits of One-Stop systems in seven states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The overall audit objective was to assess where states stood in implementing One-Stop systems to meet WIA requirements, recognizing that states were still developing systems and have until July 1, 2000, to implement the provisions of WIA. The audit was designed to assess the status of One-Stop centers and the infrastructure supporting the One-Stop system.

We found that states have made substantial efforts toward forming new comprehensive workforce investment systems. Generally, our audit disclosed that states have opened One-Stop centers capable of providing user-friendly services to customers. However, the infrastructure required for the One-Stop system is still being developed, and a strong commitment is needed by Federal, state, and local partners to meet the July 1, 2000, deadline.

State and local boards, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), cost-allocation methods, and data-collection systems need to be in place to ensure service delivery, customer choice, program accountability, and continuous improvement, which are fundamental to WIA.

One-Stop Centers

WIA requires that states establish, in each local area, a minimum of one physical center that provides core services and access to programs and activities carried out by One-Stop partners. Generally, states have made substantial progress toward meeting this requirement:

Most states had established, in each local area, at least one physical center providing core services. These centers were supplemented with additional centers, satellite offices, and kiosks.

Most centers were clean and provided customers with user-friendly and accessible services. Resource areas provided accessible employment-related information. Centers addressed transportation issues to improve customer access to centers and local job markets. Centers were designed to accommodate wheelchairs.

Most partners were either co-located at the One-Stop center or available through referral.

Although progress has been made, some states still need to open centers in local areas. States also need to ensure that centers improve access for people with disabilities, such as hearing and visual impairments, and have links with all partners, including the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker and the Indian and Native American programs.

Infrastructure

WIA requires the creation of state and local workforce investment boards (WIBs) to address policy issues, develop MOUs to define partner responsibilities at the local level, and establish cost-allocation and data-collection systems to provide ccountability. States are in the process of building the infrastructure to sustain and continuously improve the One-Stop system. Progress is being made; however, as of the end of our audit fieldwork, actions remained to be taken in several important areas, as illustrated in the following chart [ The following chart describes, by state, which WIA-required infrastructure elements have been completed--the state board, certified local boards, MOUs, equitable cost-allocation methods, and fully developed data systems ]:

INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS COMPLETED*

STATE
STATE BOARD CERTIFIED LOCAL BOARDS

MOUs
EQUITABLE COST- ALLOCATION METHODS FULLY DEVELOPED DATA SYSTEMS

California No None None None In progress

Connecticut Grantfather None None None None

Florida Grandfather Some Some Some In progress

Illinois Not compliant None None None In progress

New York No None None None In progress

Rhode Island Grandfather None None None In progress

Vermont Not compliant Not applicable None None In progress

INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS COMPLETED*
STATE	STATE BOARD	CERTIFIED LOCAL BOARDS	MOUs	EQUITABLE COST- ALLOCATION METHODS	FULLY DEVELOPED DATA SYSTEMS
California	No	None	None	None	In progress
Connecticut	Grantfather	None	None	None	None
Florida	Grandfather	Some	Some	Some	In progress
Illinois	Not compliant	None	None	None	In progress
New York	No	None	None	None	In progress
Rhode Island	Grandfather	None	None	None	In progress
Vermont	Not compliant	Not applicable	None	None	In progress

* Status is as of the completion of fieldwork (April 15, 1999 -

December 9, 1999). States have continued to develop systems

New state and local WIBs, which are essential to the reform intended by WIA, have not been fully developed. Four states had taken steps to form new state WIBs, but none were fully WIA compliant. Either states did not have an approved board or the board was missing required members, such as the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker, Indian and Native American, and Job Corps Programs. Three states elected to grandfather in existing entities as state boards. Although grandfather boards are allowed, ETA has encouraged all states to create new boards.

States have not certified local workforce investment boards. Certification ensures that required members are represented.

MOUs in most instances were not executed between One-Stop partners and local workforce investment boards. MOUs cover services to be provided, funding of services and operating costs of the system, and methods of referral. Most states have designed MOU templates and are overseeing MOU development at the local level.

Methods of allocating system costs to One-Stop partners were generally inadequate to ensure that benefitting partners are charged their fair share of One-Stop costs.

Data-collection systems were at various stages of development, with no state having fully developed systems to report performance for the state, local areas, and training providers. To measure state and local erformance, states have to collect additional data and transfer existing external data into WIA management information systems. No state had a training provider information performance system, which is required to help customers make informed choices.

We recommended that ETA ensure that states continue their efforts to meet WIA requirements by July 1, 2000.

Following are the complete One-Stop reports for Vermont, Connecticut, New York, Illinois, California, and Florida. They are all published in the Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

[ OA Report No. 02-00-205-03-320, issued February 8, 2000 ];

[ OA Report No. 02-00-206-03-390, issued February 22, 2000 ];

[ OA Report No. 02-00-207-03-390, issued February 22, 2000 ];

[ OA Report No. 02-00-209-03-390, issued March 14, 2000 ];

[ OA Report No. 02-00-210-03-390, issued March 14, 2000 ];

[ OA Report No. 02-00-211-03-390, issued March 22, 2000 ]

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