civil rights overview for conservation districts

Civil Rights Overview for Civil Rights Overview for Conservation DistrictsConservation Districts

Each year, the Secretary of Agriculture and Each year, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Chief of the Natural Resources the Chief of the Natural Resources

Conservation Service (NRCS) release a Civil Conservation Service (NRCS) release a Civil Rights Policy Statement, confirming the Rights Policy Statement, confirming the

United States Department of Agriculture’s United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) and NRCS’ commitment to (USDA’s) and NRCS’ commitment to ensuring the civil rights of all USDA ensuring the civil rights of all USDA customers and employees. All USDA customers and employees. All USDA

employees are expected to embrace this employees are expected to embrace this important commitment.important commitment.

NRCS ObligationNRCS Obligation

• Ensure partners comply with Ensure partners comply with federal program policiesfederal program policies

• Support partners in their effortsSupport partners in their efforts

Conservation District (CD) Conservation District (CD) ObligationObligation

• As recipients of NRCS technical As recipients of NRCS technical assistance,assistance, comply with Title VI comply with Title VI and Title VII of the civil rights lawand Title VII of the civil rights law

• The State of Kansas Mutual The State of Kansas Mutual Agreement between the USDA Agreement between the USDA and county CDsand county CDs

• Cooperative Working Cooperative Working Agreement between the NRCS, Agreement between the NRCS, the State Conservation the State Conservation Commission (SCC), and the Commission (SCC), and the Kansas Association of Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD)Conservation Districts (KACD)

• Local Operational Agreements Local Operational Agreements between the NRCS and county between the NRCS and county CDsCDs

Agreements, like Agreements, like the ones listed the ones listed

here, require all here, require all parties be in parties be in

compliance with compliance with the the

nondiscrimination nondiscrimination provisions provisions

contained in the contained in the Civil Rights Act of Civil Rights Act of

1964.1964.

Title VITitle VIProgram DeliveryProgram Delivery

PurposePurpose

To eliminate discrimination against To eliminate discrimination against applicants, participants, and applicants, participants, and

beneficiaries of any program or activity beneficiaries of any program or activity receiving federal financial assistancereceiving federal financial assistance


Compliance ABCsCompliance ABCs

A.A. Know the FactsKnow the Facts

B.B. Learn the LanguageLearn the Language C. Support Diversity in LeadershipC. Support Diversity in Leadership


Title 230, Part 405 of the NRCS General Title 230, Part 405 of the NRCS General Manual contains guidance on effective Manual contains guidance on effective

compliance in program delivery. Click on the compliance in program delivery. Click on the link below:link below:

http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/scripts/lpsiis.dll/GM/GM_230_405_A.htm

A.A. Know the FactsKnow the FactsB. Learn the LanguageB. Learn the Language

The NRCS policy is to encourage, The NRCS policy is to encourage, support, provide training, and support, provide training, and

assist all CD boards, councils, and assist all CD boards, councils, and committees to achieve diverse committees to achieve diverse

representation of customer representation of customer groups on such boards, councils, groups on such boards, councils,

and committees.and committees.


C. Support Diversity in C. Support Diversity in LeadershipLeadership


Complaint ProcessComplaint Process

Procedures for filing and Procedures for filing and processing program processing program discrimination complaints discrimination complaints are outlined on this are outlined on this poster.poster.

Title VIITitle VIIEqual Employment Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)Opportunity (EEO)

PurposePurpose

To provide equal opportunity for To provide equal opportunity for employees and applicants for employees and applicants for

employment in every aspect of employment in every aspect of employment practices and employment practices and

working conditions, without working conditions, without regard for…regard for…

……race, color, national origin, sex, religion, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age (40+), physical or mental disability, age (40+), physical or mental disability, retaliation (for prior participation in the retaliation (for prior participation in the

equal employment opportunity complaint equal employment opportunity complaint process), sexual orientation, marital or process), sexual orientation, marital or family status, political beliefs, parental family status, political beliefs, parental

status, and/or protected genetic status, and/or protected genetic information that has the purpose or effect information that has the purpose or effect of denying equal employment opportunity.of denying equal employment opportunity.

Title VIITitle VIIEEOEEO

““Just say no” to Just say no” to harassment!!harassment!!

Employees are entitled to work in a Employees are entitled to work in a non-hostile environment, free of non-hostile environment, free of

offensive or intimidating actions by offensive or intimidating actions by supervisors, co-workers, or others.supervisors, co-workers, or others.



Procedures for filing and Procedures for filing and processing an EEO processing an EEO complaint are outlined on complaint are outlined on this poster.this poster.



If an individual files a If an individual files a complaint of harassment, complaint of harassment,

that individual is protected that individual is protected from retaliation.from retaliation.

For additional information about USDA/NRCS For additional information about USDA/NRCS civil rights policies, visit the Web site below:civil rights policies, visit the Web site below:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ABOUT/civilrights/

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis

of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an

individual's income is derived from any public assistance individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at

(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity

provider and employer."provider and employer."

civil rights overview for conservation districts

Documents

leadership slide

language slide

nrcs obligation

nrcs policy

nrcs commitment

civil rights law slide

nrcs general manual

civil rights overview