Kitchen Volunteers

Agency Staff and Volunteer Civil Rights Training

Benefits of Civil Rights Training

• Ensures equal and consistent treatment of all people
• Provides knowledge of rights and responsibilities
• Provides a mechanism for accountability
• Eliminates illegal barriers that can prevent or deter people from seeking/receiving services
• Promotes dignity and respect while cultivating an atmosphere of equity and inclusion

What are Civil Rights?

• Non-Political rights that apply to all people
• Discrimination based on any of these Civil Rights is prohibited by law
• Any additional requirements agencies or volunteers enforce is a violation

Protected Classes

• Race
• Color
• National Origin
• Sex (including Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity)
• Disability
• Age

Legal Assurances and Protective Laws

• Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 – requires groups who received support from the Federal
  Government (food, funds, etc.) to comply with all Civil Rights legislation

Definitions and Types of Discrimination

• Discrimination – The practice of treating people differently because of how we have grouped them in our minds according to our stereotypes and prejudices; can be intentional or unintentional.
• Disparate Treatment – when a person is intentionally treated unfairly because they are a member of a protected class.
  • Example: only serving people from your congregation at your distribution
• Disparate Impact – unfair treatment that is unintentional but has negative consequence for a member of a protected class.
  • Example: asking immigrants to wait to be served until the end of the day because no interpreter is available.
• Retaliation/Reprisal – an intentional act against an individual or their family because of prior activities or behaviors
  • Example: a client expressed dissatisfaction for the items they received and their family is refused future service.
• Stereotypes – preconceived beliefs or over-simplified generalizations about a particular group
• Prejudice – set of rigid and unfavorable attitudes toward a particular group that is formed without facts

Faith-Based Institutions

• A group of individuals who are united based on religious or spiritual beliefs
• Food must be kept separate of faith-based activities
• Cannot require participation in rites, prayers, or receive literature in order to receive services
• Must hang written copy of Notice of Beneficiary Rights in a location visible to clients

Reasonable Accommodations

• Must provide the same level of service to all clients, even if it means service is provided in an
  alternative way
  • Example: Reading forms out loud; carrying food to vehicles; sign language interpreters

Customer Service and Experience

• Treat everyone with dignity and respect
• Be patient and polite
• Make sure all clients receive equal treatment
• Recognize clients have different needs
• People with disabilities must be accommodated
• Be open to new ways of serving clients
• Put yourself in the client’s position

Client Data Collection

• Information collected must be kept secure and remain confidential
• Data collected may never be used for purposes other than reporting to Feeding America West Michigan
  • Examples of Misuse: verifying addresses; sending flyers; sharing with outside groups like DHHS

Civil Rights Conflicts

• Stay calm and listen
• Don’t be afraid to apologize
• Take time to kindly explain policies
• Try to offer solutions

If you are unsure how to handle a situation, get the Site Coordinator’s help with questions or concerns.

Filing a Civil Rights Complaint

• Everyone has the right to file a complaint
• Never discourage someone from filing a complaint
• Direct those wishing to make a complaint to the coordinator
• Complaints can be written or verbal
• All Civil Rights complaints should be documented, reported to Feeding America West Michigan and submitted to the USDA