Civil Rights and Community Outreach Virginia Department of Health Special Nutrition Programs 2014

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Objectives: Identify Civil Rights requirements for the SFSP Provide ideas for reaching out to the community to promote summer feeding sites

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Sponsors must: Assign a Civil Rights Coordinator Training administrative and site staff Display the “And Justice for All” nondiscrimination poster at all sites in a prominent location

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Sponsors must: Annually collect beneficiary data Provide reasonable accommodations Provide equal access to the meal(s) Prevent overt identification

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Sponsors must: Keep written procedures on file for civil rights complaints Display the following Civil Rights nondiscrimination Statement on all flyers, program information that references meals, media releases, and menus

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach The U.S Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department.

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at filing cust.htm I, or at any USDA office, or call (866) to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C , by fax (202) or at Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) ; or (800) (Spanish)..

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Menus must have at a minimum… USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Civil Rights Training Annual training on civil rights-related laws, regulations, and procedures is required for staff involved in all levels of child nutrition program administration. Sponsors are responsible for providing annual civil rights training to their administrative and site staff.

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Civil Rights Training Specific subjects must include, but are not limited to the following: Collection and use of racial and ethnic data Effective public notification system and procedures Complaint procedures Resolution of noncompliance complaints

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Civil Rights Training Specific subjects must include, but are not limited to the following: Requirements for reasonable accommodation of persons with disabilities that restrict the diet Requirements for language assistance Conflict resolution

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Preventing Overt Identification Overt identification is any action that may result in a child being recognized as potentially eligible to receive or certified for free meals. Sponsors must assure that a child’s eligibility status is not disclosed at any point in the process of providing free meals, including notification of the availability of free benefits; certification and notification of eligibility.

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Medical Accommodations Sponsors must have a completed medical statement (Statement for Special Diet Prescription form) on file for any child whose disability or accommodation prevents serving the child a reimbursable meal.

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Reaching Out to the Community To promote SFSP sites, the following outreach examples meet USDA requirements: Local media [television, radio, web sites, newspapers] Door hangers/Flyers Banners

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Poster Requirements Agencies must prominently display the USDA nondiscrimination poster “And Justice for All.” The mandated poster size is 11 inches in width by 17 inches in height. The poster must be displayed where meals/snacks are served or any location where parents and the public can read it.

Module #7: Civil Rights and Community Outreach Poster Requirements