A common frustration among job-seekers and employers today is the difficulty of finding quality information on available employment and training programs, having to go from one place to another to actually receive information and services. The One-Stop Career Center System is the organizing vehicle for transforming this fragmented array of employment and training programs into an integrated service delivery system for job-seekers and employers. The U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with the States and locals, is working to transfer this vision of an integrated, high-quality delivery system into reality.

The Department began in late 1994 with the award of One-Stop Career Center grants to 25 states. Six states -- Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and Wisconsin -- received the first year grant of a three-year, multi-million dollar award to fully implement one-stop systems, while nineteen others received one-year awards to support the planning and development of such systems. (*)

In 1995, the Department expects to add an additional 10 implementation states, bringing the total to 16. The first three of these states are Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio, which were rated very highly in the 1994 competition. The remaining seven will be identified through a second round grant competition and awarded in July. The Department is hopeful that, by year's end, every state across the country will have received funds in support of the development and/or implementation of statewide One-Stop Career Center Systems.

While the Department is supporting Statewide system-building, it also recognizes that many local communities have made significant progress in consolidating service delivery in a One-Stop environment. The Department intends to capitalize on this innovation by awarding grants to local entities to serve as "learning laboratories" for other jurisdictions across the Country. Approximately 8 - 10 of these grants will be awarded in June 1995.

While each state's one-stop system will be designed in conjunction with local communities to best meet their particular needs, the following four principles are key to all One-Stop Career Center Systems:

(1) Universality -- All population groups will have access to a wide array of jobseeking and employment development services, including the initial assessment of skills and abilities, self-help information relating to career exploration and skill requirements of various occupations, consumer report information on the performance of local education and training providers, and quality labor market information.

(2) Customer Choice -- Giving customers choices is critical to a One-Stop Career Center System. Employers and job seekers will have choices in where and how they can obtain information and services and will have access to the information they need to make informed choices among education and training options.

(3) Integration -- A One-Stop Career Center System offers a seamless approach to service delivery, providing access to services under a wide array of employment, training, and education programs. This program integration also requires integration of governance structures at both the state and local levels.

(4) Performance Driven/Outcome Based Measures -- To ensure customer satisfaction, One-Stop Career Center Systems must have clear outcome measures and consequences for failing to meet them.

(*) The 19 states which received planning grants are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.

This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of Labor programs. It is intended as a general description only and does not carry the force of legal opinion.