Civil Rights

State agencies and child nutrition sponsoring agencies shall comply with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.

Additionally, recipients are required to notify applicants with disabilities and limited English proficiency (LEP) persons of their right to free language assistance and accommodations and to provide these services upon request. This notification must be clearly stated on recipient websites.

In the operation of the Child Nutrition Programs, no individual in the United States shall solely by reason of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Free language assistance, auxiliary aids, and/or accommodations are available upon request. Please contact 602-542-8700 or email [email protected].

 

Forms and Resources for Operators

 

Training

 

Filing a Complaint

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. mail:  U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
              1400 Independence Avenue, SW
              Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

  2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or

  3. email: [email protected].

 

Para presentar una denuncia de discriminación, complete el Formulario de Denuncia de Discriminación del Programa del USDA, (AD-3027) que está disponible en línea en: How to File a Complaint. y en cualquier oficina del USDA, o bien escriba una carta dirigida al USDA e incluya en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de denuncia, llame al (866) 632-9992. Haga llegar su formulario lleno o carta al USDA por:

  1. correo:  U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
                  1400 Independence Avenue, SW
                  Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

  2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or

  3. correo electrónico: [email protected].

 

Nondiscrimination Policy Statement

All USDA Food and Nutrition Programs should include the required nondiscrimination statement on all appropriate FNS and agency publications, posters, and informational materials. The statement can be found below and at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights/nds.

 

The long statement reads as follows:

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

 

The short statement reads as follows:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The shorter statement may be used if the material is too small to permit the long statement. However, the print size should be no smaller than the text of the document. Examples include letters, memos, notices, menus, internet, public service announcements, television spots, or advertisements, recruitment and outreach correspondence.

 

Civil Rights Reminders for Child Nutrition Sponsors

  • Provide your Child Nutrition Program (CNP) in a non-discriminatory manner.
  • Offer meals to all CNP participants. 
  • Offer meal substitutions to any participant who discloses a food allergy, intolerance, medical condition, or any major bodily function affected by a food item. 
  • Prominently display the "And Justice for All" nondiscrimination poster in 11" by 17" dimensions in areas where participants and potential participants have access.
  • Include the nondiscrimination statement on all printed material and webpages available to the public which mentions USDA, CACFP, NSLP, and/or SFSP.
  • Provide informational materials concerning the availability and nutritional benefits of the CNP's inappropriate translations and use language interpreters as needed.
  • Submit your media release to a media outlet annually.
  • Collect ethnic and racial data annually for all CNPs and each camp session in SFSP.
  • Train staff annually on civil rights and maintain the agenda, sign-in sheet, and training materials.
  • Include assurances in all CNP-related contracts.
  • Develop and implement your Civil Rights Complaint procedures.
  • Maintain a Civil Rights Complaint Log.
  • Make the civil rights complaint forms, civil rights log, and civil rights complaint procedures available to all staff.
  • Refer all civil rights complaints to your assigned HNS specialist promptly.

 

Racial and Ethnic Categories

The race and ethnic categories for data collection and reporting have been changed to the following:

Ethnic Categories:

Hispanic or Latino A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term “Spanish origin” can be used in addition to “Hispanic or Latino.”

Non-Hispanic or Non-Latino A person other than Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

Racial Categories:

Black or African American A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as “Haitian” can be used in addition to ‘Black or African American.’

Asian A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

American Indian or Alaskan Native A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

White A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.