The PLACE Program will:
Create a dynamic learning environment for participants that includes workplace prep workshops, skills and technical education, classroom and on-the-job training, and support in applying for County employment.
Assign each participant a WERC Case Manager to provide robust supportive services identifying challenges and solutions, and support participants’ success. Case Managers will continue to work with participants for at least 6 months into their new position.
Who we are looking for:
We are looking for individuals who are ready to commit to an intensive program. It is important that all candidates possess a desire in one of the jobs listed above and understand that success is based on individuals fulfilling all requirements related to job preparation and the County hiring process.
We encourage individuals from the following populations to apply:
- Transition Aged Youth and former foster care youth
- Low-income individuals from communities with high unemployment
- Homeless or formerly homeless individuals
- Current or former justice-involved individuals
- LGBTQ+ and women
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Our program will prepare you to qualify for and successfully apply for a County job, but the County will make the final determination about who it hires.
Please contact WERC staff to determine future program dates.
Most classes will take place at the WERC office just west of downtown Los Angeles, but some programs and training sessions will be off-site.
Participants must meet the requirements for the job the training is preparing them to apply. Please contact WERC staff to determine job requirements.
Participants must also have reliable transportation to all program sessions, and some County jobs will require workers to have a California Class C driver’s license. (Reliable transportation includes a car, public transit, or bicycle.)
The program components include a pre-employment training, support in applying for the County position, case management services, and hiring and on-the-job support.
No, there is not cost, the training is FREE to the participant.
Participants will be selected after completing the following steps:
- Submission of a completed intake form, resume and candidate assessment
- A short phone screening to verify candidate’s information, eligibility, and ability to commit to the training dates.
- Completion of an individual and group interview
No, most do not require previous experience as they are entry-level positions. Please contact WERC staff to determine if work experience is necessary.
The County application process is difficult for many. Our program is designed to support your successful application, hire, and ongoing development during the County “probation period,” which lasts the first six months of your employment. You will receive pre-employment classroom training prior to being deployed to a position within a County department, and we will teach specific skills to be effective on the job, in a team, and in the County workplace culture.
Yes, you can still take part in the program. If you are concerned that a specific conviction in your background would prevent you from working for the County, a WERC case manager is available to discuss this confidentially.
Anyone with a prior criminal conviction may apply for a job with the County of Los Angeles, and the County will only do a background check after it has made a “contingent offer” of employment. At that point, the County may disqualify someone based on their specific conviction and its relevance to the job. (There is an appeal process for applicants, and our WERC case managers can assist you with the appeal process.) You should know that the California Fair Chance Act prevents every employer from asking about conviction history until they have made a conditional job offer.