DCA Named National Consumer Agency of the Year
L.A. County Department of Consumer Affairs wins second award in three years
For the second time in three years, a leading consumer rights organization named the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) its national Agency of the Year.
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The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators recently named the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs its national Agency of the Year for the second time in three years. |
The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators presented their prestigious annual award to DCA Director Pastor Herrera, Jr. at the group’s recent annual conference in Dallas, Texas.
The organization saluted DCA “for enhancing existing programs, creating new initiatives, and responding to the needs of over 10 million consumers.”
DCA also received the Agency of the Year award in 2006.
“I am extremely honored and proud of our staff, volunteers and interns who are very deserving of this national recognition,” said Herrera, DCA’s Director for over 17 years.
DCA created several new programs in 2007 to meet the needs of Los Angeles County citizens:
DCA Staff Training Academy – Launched in partnership with California State University Northridge to provide specialized training to investigators and counselors.
Fraud Prevention Initiative – Set up in partnership with the Community Development Commission to provide targeted consumer education and complaint investigation for seniors and dependent adults who live in public housing sites.
Foreclosure Prevention Project – Created to help homeowners facing foreclosure and investigate consumer and real estate fraud.
Plain Language Initiative – Continued to build on our award-winning program. DCA created a communications group to institutionalize Plain Language at DCA and ensure that communications with our customers are accurate, up-to-date and understandable.
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In 2007, DCA served over 750,000 consumers in the areas of:
DCA’s investigations in consumer protection and real estate fraud led to the return of over 28 million dollars to consumers.
“In the last couple of years our department has been able to initiate many cutting-edge programs that have enabled us to enhance our consumer-protection services to the consumers and businesses of Los Angeles County,” Herrera said.
The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators represents over 160 consumer agencies at all levels of government in the United States and several other countries. Members of the association are front-line advocates who work directly with consumers to solve problems, advance legislation, and support consumer outreach and education.
The mission of the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs is to provide professional and responsive services to the consumers and businesses of Los Angeles County through advocacy, empowerment and education. For information on DCA, visit the Department’s website at dca.lacounty.gov.
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