To comply with the rules of the nondiscrimination policy, the CAO must:
Develop a written policy of nondiscrimination in the delivery of services that is signed by the Executive Director of the CAO. The policy statement should include:
The specific dates when persons are allowed to file complaints alleging discrimination and
Information on how to file a complaint.
Post the policy statement and make sure that non-English-speaking and deaf or blind persons learn about it.
Display the poster letting clients know about the Civil Rights Act.
List the offices to contact if a client believes he or she has been discriminated against.
Provide benefits and services in a way that makes sure each person’s rights are respected when it comes to:
the use of physical facilities;
application procedures;
caseload assignments; and
decisions on eligibility and the amount of the benefit.
Visit participating agencies and contact clients or other persons in the community to let them know that there is no discrimination against persons who apply for or receive public assistance.
Offer and encourage the use of certified interpreters or transliterators for persons who are deaf or cannot hear well. If a person prefers to use a family member or someone else to translate, allow it unless it would be unhelpful or inappropriate. For example, a minor child should not serve as an interpreter in most cases. The CAO must note in the case record that the use of a certified interpreter or transliterator was offered, but the deaf or hearing-impaired person chose to use his or her own interpreter. For more information, see Appendix B, Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Persons Accessing Services at the CAOs and Appendix C, Communicating with the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired.
The CAO must not:
Deny anyone access to money-related help, services, or benefits for which he or she is eligible.
Provide different money-related help, services, or benefits to persons who are in the same situation.
Provide money-related help, services, or benefits to a person differently from others when deciding on eligibility.
Treat a person differently from others when deciding on eligibility.
Deny a person who is disabled from taking part in a program that is open to other persons in the same situation.
Deny any person the chance to take part in a program that is open to others in the same program in the same situation.
An employee of the DHS who limits, stops, endangers, or gets in the way of the rights, benefits and opportunities of an applicant or recipient, will be disciplined.
Reviewed July 30, 2013