This memorandum seeks to ensure that current Food and Nutrition Service guidance pertaining to federal civil rights and nondiscrimination obligations remains aligned with applicable laws, regulations, executive orders and directives relevant to the agency’s 16 nutrition assistance programs.
This guidance is intended to assist state agencies and program operators of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program in meeting the longstanding federal requirement to collect race and ethnicity data of program participants.
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide clarification on the written notice requirements that apply to indian tribal organizations and state agencies that administer FDPIR, per the USDA regulations on equal opportunity for religious organizations to participate in USDA assistance programs.
The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the written notice and referral requirements for organizations that receive USDA Foods or administrative funding as part of CSFP and TEFAP program guidance, per USDA regulations on equal opportunity for religious organizations to participate in USDA assistance programs.
USDA and eight other federal agencies recently published a final rule entitled, Partnerships With Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations at 89 FR 15671 (final rule). The final rule amended USDA regulations at 7 CFR part 16 related to equal opportunity for faith-based organizations that operate USDA programs and religious protections for USDA program beneficiaries.
FNS works to ensure all communities in need have access to foods that support health and well-being. Our goal is to ensure program participants have access to culturally and religiously preferred foods and that program operators have resources to best serve their communities.
The Civil Rights Division ensures that FNS complies with the laws, regulations, policies and guidance that prohibit discrimination against employees and applicants in the federal workplace. Equal Employment Opportunity laws prohibit discrimination in employment to ensure fair hiring, competition in promotions and equal access to training/development opportunities.
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 prohibits discrimination based on disability by state and local governments.
The Civil Rights Division provides leadership and comprehensive protection against discrimination in FNS employment practices and delivery of programs to the public.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks to issue a Department-wide regulation to implement the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (“Age Act”), and the Government-wide Age Discrimination regulation promulgated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).