Civil Rights and Diversity
Training
for
Extension Councils
and
Extension Committees
Diversity = Human Differences
No matter how you define it—
linguistically, culturally,
religiously, ethnically
the United States is the most
demographically diverse
nation in world history
As a public institution, Iowa State
University, ISU Extension and
Outreach, USDA, the State of Iowa
and each county government
pledge to be inclusive in our
programming and hiring.
It all started with…
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
“No person in the United States shall, on
the grounds of race, color, or national
origin, be excluded from participation
in, be denied the benefits of, or be
subjected to discrimination under any
program or activity receiving federal
financial assistance.”
Other Federal Laws Relating
to Civil Rights and Diversity
• USDA Secretaries Memorandum #1662
and #1884 and Supplements
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (EEO)
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of
1990
Requirements for Civil Rights
Planning and Reporting
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Program Delivery
Public Notification
Civil Rights Training
Civil Rights Compliance Reviews
Employment
Handling a Complaint
1. Program Delivery
• Adapt program content
• Increase participation on program planning and
advisory committees
• Increase membership of under-represented in
4-H community clubs and special interests
• Adjust programs for customers with disabilities
• Offices and program locations handicapped
accessible
2. Public Notification
• Modify where we advertise our programs
• Advise potential clientele that we don’t
discriminate
• Display “…And Justice For All” poster and
include on printed materials
• Inform groups with who we cooperate on the
nondiscriminatory requirements of Extension
• Use statements, photos and graphics to convey
the message of equal opportunity
• Use sex-neutral language
3. Civil Rights Training
• Civil rights training annually for all staff,
councils, committees on our Civil Rights
responsibilities
• Focus on dealing effectively with diversity
in communities
4. Civil Rights Compliance
Reviews
• Implement the systematic procedure for
conducting civil rights reviews
Iowa’s Compliance Plan
• County Civil Rights Audits in each county
every 4 years.
• Annual meetings to see if parity was
reached and to set goals for the next year.
• Individual staff goals on their annual
performance appraisal form.
Documentation
• Written evidence or proof of compliance
efforts and their results.
• Should include names of parties involved,
dates, what transpired and date the
documentation was developed.
• Program participation data is
documentation.
5. Employment
• Equal Employment Opportunity requires:
– A plan for recruitment of diverse employees.
– Full utilization of staff skills
– Access to training, promotion, and awards
– Fair processing of complaints
– Accessible EEO counselors
6. Public Complaint
Procedures
• Complaints can be made to:
–
–
–
–
Vice President for Extension and Outreach
Secretary of Agriculture
Iowa Civil Rights Commission
or any ISUEO staff member
• File complaint within 180 days
• Document the date, the complainant, nature, send to
REED even if not formal
• Inform those who make verbal complaints that they
can make written complaint and notify supervisor
Now it’s your turn
Who can answer these questions?
A Public Notification Plan is:
1. A plan for alerting citizens of an approaching
tornado.
2. Part of the environmental law being developed
for confined livestock feeding.
3. A written plan in a county which outlines the
usual procedures for program recruitment and
notification by program area.
“All Reasonable Effort”
means:
1. What REED’s do to get staff to fill in their
schedules with phone numbers where
they can be reached.
2. Actions required encouraging
participation of minorities in Extension
programs.
3. What parents do to get their kids to do
their chores around the house.
Parity is:
1. The timeframe right after the party.
2. When the participation rate of historically
underserved audiences reflects the same
proportion of participation as the general
population.
3. When Iowa’s programs meet the needs
of diverse participants.
Compliance is achieved
when:
1. We accomplish all the requirements of
the various Civil Rights laws.
2. When all staff put programs on the
Extension Calendar of Events.
3. When the rate of participation of
historically underserved audiences has
reached 80% of the potential.
Potential Audience is:
1. Anyone who lives in the county.
2. Persons who participate in our programs.
3. Persons or groups within a defined
geographic area who might be interested
or benefit from an Extension educational
program.
Adequate Public Notification
Includes:
1. Using a variety of mass media to
inform potential audience of program
and opportunity to participate.
2. Sending personal letters, flyers and
publications to potential clients.
3. Making personal visits to a
representative number of potential
participants.
Iowa is becoming more
diverse.
Counties With Over 200 Minorities:
Total Minorities
8.7%
Black Alone
2.9%
Asian Alone, Native
Hawaiian, Pacific
Islander
1.8%
American Indian/
Native Alaskan
0.4%
Two or More Races/
Other
3.6%
Over 200 Minorities
Under 200 Minorities
Hispanic
5.0%
Highest Number of Hispanics
Percent Minority* K - 12 Students
Iowa
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
1978 1982
1986
1990
1994 1998 2000
2006
2011
*Minority includes Hispanic, Black, Asian American, and American Indian students.
Percent Minority* K-12 Students, 2011
Iowa = 13.2%
Higher than the state average
Lower than the state average
*Minority includes Hispanic, black, Asian American, and American Indian students.
ISU Census Services
Are Extension programs
and staffing keeping up?
How can we tell?
Civil Rights Population
Projections
• Establish program targets.
• Project anticipated participation in goal
setting.
• Try to reach parity. Goal is to have
participation contacts in reasonable
proportion to the distribution of minority
and gender groups (80% of potential).
Data Collection to see if we
meet parity
• Currently
– 4HOnline for youth Program
– EFNEP/FNP statistical
– One week random sample of gender and
ethnicity/race for meetings on the
Extension Calendar 4 times a year
– One week random sample of one-on-one
consultations 4 times year
Civil Rights and Diversity
It’s the law and it’s the right thing
to do!
Questions ?
Contact ISUEO Human Resources
Phone: (515) 294-3283
Email: exthr@iastate.edu