Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance (DHA) is committed to respecting your rights when applying for or receiving public assistance programs. Federal and state civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ensure that the administration of public assistance and social services programs are nondiscriminatory. These laws and others, as listed below, ensure that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal or state financial assistance.
You are protected from discrimination under the following Federal and State civil rights laws:
You are protected from discrimination on the basis of:
This includes protection against retaliation for filing a complaint or participating in a civil rights investigation.
The "Your Rights Under California Public Benefits Programs" pamphlet provides information on what Your Civil Rights are, who they protect, and how to file a complaint or State Hearing for people applying for or receiving public aid in California.
PUB 13 is available in additional languages and formats on the CDSS Website.
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.
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:
Completion of the complaint form is helpful but not required. You may file a complaint in writing or verbally.
Your complaint 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
If you need assistance with filing a complaint, let any DHA employee know or contact the Civil Rights Section through email or by phone.
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:
What to Expect After Filing:
Other Avenues for Discrimination Complaints::
If you disagree with the County's decision regarding your previously submitted civil rights complaint, including if the Civil Rights Section determined not to 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 the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance.
To appeal this decision, contact the 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.
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 result from the inaction of assisting or completing case actions for a customer. General complaints include, but are not limited to, discourteous behavior, long wait times on the phone, lack of follow-through, and untimely responses. You can escalate these types of complaints through the supervisor, manager, or Ombudsperson.
See PUB 13 – Your Rights Under California Public Benefits Program and the California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Bureau website for more information.
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. We call this type of help a reasonable accommodation. You can ask for extra help by phone 1-800-560-0976 or in person.
Shawna Hernandez
Civil Rights Coordinator
Email: DHA-Civil-Rights@saccounty.gov
Telephone: 1-916-876-4455
Fax: (916) 875-3591