DATE: June 24, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Mandated Partner Memorandum of Understanding
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board for workforce development services, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, total not to exceed $50,421.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will allow the Department of Social Services (DSS) to partner with the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board (FRWDB) to continue to operate the America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC) and provide employment development and barrier removal services to California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) participants in accordance with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board elect not to approve the recommended action, the County will be out of compliance with WIOA requirements and could lose funding for WIOA activities that benefit job-seeking residents of Fresno County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum compensation for the term of the agreement ($50,421) will be offset with State and Federal funds ($43,128), County match comprised of 2011 Realignment ($3,540), 1991 Realignment ($3,315), and budgeted Net County Cost ($438) for the General Relief share. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget and will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
In July 2014, WIOA was signed into law, and mandates that certain Federal, State, and local agencies formally partner with local Workforce Development Boards. The partnership allows clients to be referred between the partners for specific services, allowing resources from multiple sources to be leveraged at singular, accessible locations. Currently, DSS provides a Job Specialist (JS) at the AJCC. The JS supports inquiries from local partners regarding clients who may be eligible for available services and assists with job fair events.
Expectations of the FRWDB and the partners are outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), while operational costs are incorporated into the MOU as an Infrastructure Funding Agreement (IFA). WIOA requires that MOUs be reviewed and updated as needed every three years, and the IFA updated annually. The IFA reflects the total estimated costs of the services provided to the community by co-located staff and ensures that all partners share proportionately in the costs associated with the AJCC.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #60, August 9, 2022
BAI #37, June 4, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - MOU with FRWDB
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander