Scope
These
requirements shall apply to the California Department of Social Services, all
county welfare departments and other agencies receiving federal or state
financial assistance through California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
for the administration of public assistance, food stamps, child support
enforcement, fraud investigation, and social services. The
Civil Rights Section at DHA ensures department-wide compliance with federal,
state, and local regulations concerning non-discrimination and disability
access. This includes providing effective language interpretive services
for persons who are Non-English (NE) speaking, Limited English Proficient
(LEP), and persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or have other
communication challenges that require equally effective communication. In
addition, if
you have physical, mental, or emotional conditions that make it hard for you to
apply for benefits or meet program requirements we can give you extra help.
How to file a Civil Rights Complaint
If you believe you have been discriminated against while applying for or receiving services from the County of Sacramento Department of Human Assistance or one of its contracted providers, you may file a Civil Rights complaint. To report a discrimination complaint, you can call, file in person, or click on one of the following forms which can be filled out electronically:
English | Arabic | Armenian | Cambodian | Chinese | Farsi_Dari | Hindi | Hmong | Japanese | Korean | Lao | Mien | Punjabi | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish | Tagalog | Thai | Ukrainian | Vietnamese |
Your compliant may be submitted by:
Email: DHA-Civil-Rights@saccounty.gov
Fax: 916-875-3591
Mail: Civil Rights Coordinator, 1825 Bell St Suite #200, Sacramento, CA 95825
In Person: Submit completed form at any County of Sacramento DHA office or let any DHA employee know you would like to make a civil rights complaint.
Phone: 916-876-4455
Completion of the complaint form is helpful but not required. You may file a complaint in writing or verbally.
If you need assistance with filing a complaint let any DHA employee know or contact the Civil Right Section through email or by phone.
Complaint Process
To file a civil rights complaint with or about a program administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), you can file directly with the county's Civil Rights Representative or contact CDSS. Your complaint will be handled by county staff, with the CDSS Civil Rights Unit reviewing the county's investigation for compliance. You have 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination to file.
In accordance with the California Department of Social Services/Civil Rights Bureau, you must be informed that this discrimination complaint process:
- is focused on identifying and eliminating discrimination
- will not change benefit levels or eligibility to aid programs.
- will not result in monetary remuneration or compensation
What to Expect After Filing:
- Investigation:
If your complaint requires an investigation, the county's civil rights program staff will investigate it within 60 days of receiving it. - Review:
The CDSS Civil Rights Unit does not investigate discrimination complaints directly but reviews the county's investigation to ensure it complies with civil rights laws and regulations. - No Investigation:
If your complaint does not require an investigation, you will be informed in writing within 40 days of when your complaint was received.
Other Avenues for Discrimination Complaints::
- Federal Agency:
You can also file a discrimination complaint with the appropriate federal agency.. - State Hearings:
For matters related to public assistance programs, you can request a State Hearing to have an Administrative Law Judge review the issue.
How to Appeal a Complaint Decision
If you disagree with the County's decision regarding your previously submitted civil rights complaint, including if the Civil Rights Section determined to not investigate your complaint, you may appeal the decision to the California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Section within 30 calendar days of the letter from Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance.
To appeal this decision, contact to California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Section:
Mail: California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Section, 744 P Street, M/S 9-7-04, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (866) 741-6241
TDD/TTY: (800) 688-4486
Website: CDSS Civil Rights
Email: crb@dss.ca.gov
Please refer to the PUB 13 – Your Rights Under California Public Benefits Program for more information regarding appeals.
Other Complaints
If you have a complaint regarding a worker or other
DHA staff member, but do not feel this person treated you differently because
of your race, gender, disability, or other protected status, this is a program
or service complaint. Program and service complaints, also referred to as
general complaints, typically results from the inaction of assisting or
completing case actions for a customer. General complaints include, but
are not limited to, discourteous behavior, long telephone wait times, lack of
follow-through, and untimely responses. You can escalate these types of
complaints through the supervisor, manager, or Ombudsperson.
