1. THE DAILY PROCESS Tips for Successful Civil Rights Compliance

2. Practicing Civil Rights (CR) in program compliance and employee and customer relations is a full-time job.

3. Good documentation of CR activities will… Provide support of the office “daily process” Provide support of the office “daily process” Promote confidence and self esteem Promote confidence and self esteem Eliminate non-compliance Eliminate non-compliance Enhance the “teamwork” atmosphere Enhance the “teamwork” atmosphere

4. Components of a Successful Civil Rights Program Structural (The Building) Structural (The Building) Visual Visual Employee/Agency Employee/Agency Supervisory Supervisory Customer Service/Program Customer Service/Program

5. Structural (The Building) Are the following compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Structural (The Building) Are the following compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Parking Parking Entrances Entrances Restrooms Restrooms Space Space - doorways - hallways - work areas

6. Visual Mandatory posted materials Mandatory posted materials See the Kansas USDA Service Center Manual online at http://www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/partnerships/SC_Manual/index.html for a current list of mandatory posted materials. http://www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/partnerships/SC_Manual/index.html NRCS mandatory posted materials are available online at http://www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/posted_materials.htmlhttp://www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/posted_materials.html. http://www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/posted_materials.html

7. Employee/Agency Interactions with co-workers Interactions with co-workers Knowledge of equity in program delivery Knowledge of equity in program delivery Knowledge of the complaint process Knowledge of the complaint process Personal equitable treatment by supervisor and agency Personal equitable treatment by supervisor and agency Ensure employees know to practice Agency Equal Opportunity (EO) and CR policies when interacting with other agencies and outside entities.

8. Supervisory Education provided to subordinate employees Education provided to subordinate employees Equitable treatment of multiple subordinate employees Equitable treatment of multiple subordinate employees Office compliance with CR policies Office compliance with CR policies - The 230 File

9. Supervisory – The 230 File What is the 230 file and how is it used? Title 230, Parts 401 and 402 of the General Manual is the section dedicated to EO and CR. Title 230, Parts 401 and 402 of the General Manual is the section dedicated to EO and CR. Each office must create and maintain a 230 file. Each office must create and maintain a 230 file. All EO activities should be documented and retained in the 230 file. All EO activities should be documented and retained in the 230 file.

10. Supervisory – The 230 File Why is documentation important? Provides proof of EO and CR efforts and activities Provides proof of EO and CR efforts and activities Is a great tool for drafting an EO and CR action plan Is a great tool for drafting an EO and CR action plan Serves as a means for measuring success Serves as a means for measuring success

11. Customer Service/Program Equitable treatment is offeredto all customers and potential customers with regards to service and program participation. Equitable treatment is offeredto all customers and potential customers with regards to service and program participation. Offices are making efforts to practice outreach to the underserved. Offices are making efforts to practice outreach to the underserved.

12. Help is Available Contact your area office or assistant state conservationist for field operations Contact your area office or assistant state conservationist for field operations Contact a Civil Rights Advisory Committee member (www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/civil_rights.html/) Contact a Civil Rights Advisory Committee member (www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/civil_rights.html/)www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/civil_rights.html

13. Good Resource The Participant Book associated with the NRCS CR Compliance in Program Delivery class offers some excellent tools.

14. Every Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office will experience a CR review. Every Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office will experience a CR review. This review usually takes place in conjunction with a management and administrative review. This review usually takes place in conjunction with a management and administrative review. The frequency of the review at the field office level is every five years. The frequency of the review at the field office level is every five years. The CR Review - Measuring Success

15. Why do a review? Because…CR reviews: Because…CR reviews: Educate employees Educate employees Remind us of what is correct Remind us of what is correct Reinforce the importance of equity Reinforce the importance of equity Ensure compliance Ensure compliance The following three pages contain a helpful check list for CR compliance reviews.

19. "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer." Non-Discrimination Statement