Civil Rights Training must be provided to all staff and front-line volunteers on an annual basis. After reviewing, please complete this form to document your training.
Goals of Civil Rights – fairness and equality, elimination of barriers, and knowledge of rights
Legal Prohibitions – discrimination is prohibited 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 assistant program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the USDA.
Types of Discrimination –
• Disparate treatment (intentional);
• Disparate impact (neutral rule impacts disproportionately on a group);
• Reprisal/retaliation against complainant or his/her family, associates or others involved in complaint process or exercising civil rights.
When do Civil Rights rules apply? – Civil rights rules apply any time there is any federal financial assistance. Federal financial assistance is receiving anything of value from the federal government – not just cash. It can include commodities, training, equipment, and other goods and services.
Special Circumstances
• Accommodate people with disabilities. Sites should be accessible to people with all types of disabilities (e.g., mobility, sight, hearing, other). Ask your supervisor about alternate means of service if needed.
• Provide language assistance to persons with limited English proficiency if needed. Ask your supervisor for assistance.
Staff and Volunteer Requirements
• Treat all people with dignity and respect.
• Maintain confidentiality. It is not appropriate to talk about who is receiving benefits and to make remarks about them. Never share information with others regardless of an expression of good intentions. Refer all requests for information to managers. What happens at the site stays at the site. The exception, of course, is any illegal or inappropriate behavior that should be reported to local, state or federal officials.
• Make sure personal data is kept confidential. This includes names, dates of birth and addresses.
• Sexual harassment is prohibited. Do not engage in or tolerate unwanted or unwelcome sexual behavior including jokes, touching, requests for sexual favors, etc. Report violations to management or to state or federal officials.
• Everyone has a right to file a complaint. Contact your supervisor immediately if anyone says they feel discriminated against and refer to Open Cupboard’s grievance procedure.
• If conflicts occur, remain calm. Call for assistance immediately if you feel threatened.
• Follow the platinum rule – treat people the way they would like to be treated!
To learn more, volunteers can watch this Civil Rights Training video. The certification quiz referenced in the video is NOT needed.