-  Civil Rights                   -  Civil Rights Contacts 
              -  Equal Employment Opportunity Branch 
              -  Program Compliant Processing and Resolution Branch 
              -  Program Compliance and Training Branch 
              -  Posters 
              -  Civil Rights Training 
              -  Limited English Proficiency 
              -  Civil Rights Library 
              -  Accessibility Statement 

                  - English
                  - Spanish

The Program Compliance Branch is responsible for monitoring recipient compliance under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VIII of the Fair Housing Act of 1988, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The Americans with Disability Act of 1990, The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. The Program Compliance (PC) Branch provides key outreach and educational tools to empower Rural Development employees to administer the various (Business, Housing, and Utility) programs to rural America. The Branch performs the following functions:
                    - Develop and conduct program civil rights and compliance training. Training modules are of a highly technical nature and specifically designed to various types of program facilities financed by the RD. Training is provided to internal and external customers and stakeholders.
                    - Develop, analyze, evaluate and recommend policies, plans, regulations, standards and procedures to assure equal access to all RD programs and services are consistent with RD civil rights objectives, and suggest modifications where needed.
                    - Advise field staff on the proper execution of forms, instructions, and guidelines. Determine areas where noncompliance exists and recommend corrective or remedial action for achieving full compliance.
                    - Perform on-site reviews to evaluate State offices complaint processing responsibilities and implementation of civil rights policies by correlating information developed through investigations and compliance reviews as well as information from sources outside USDA on racial, gender and National Origin data on program participation.

                        -          Compliance Reports        
Under Development
 
                        -          Program Compliance Complaint Process        How to file a complaint
To file a Program Discrimination complaint, you can contact the Rural Development Civil Rights staff via the “Contact Us” Button. An Available Specialist on Staff Will Be Happy to Assist You.

For questions on issues or how to file a complaint you may contact the Rural Development Civil Rights staff at 1-800-787-8821, option 02.
What is a Program Discrimination Complaint?
Filing a Program Discrimination Complaint as a USDA Customer

USDA prohibits discrimination against its customers. If you believe you experienced discrimination when obtaining services from USDA, participating in a USDA program, or a program that receives financial assistance from USDA, you may file a complaint with USDA. OASCR, through the Center for Civil Rights Enforcement, will investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination in programs operated or assisted by USDA.

USDA prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, limited English proficiency, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from a public assistance program. In programs that receive Federal financial assistance from USDA, discrimination is prohibited on the bases of race, color, religious creed, sex, political beliefs, age, disability, national origin, or limited English proficiency. (Not all bases apply to all programs.) Reprisal is prohibited based on prior civil rights activity.

To file a program discrimination complaint, you may obtain a complaint form by sending an email to SM.OASCR.Info. You or your authorized representative must sign the complaint form. You are not required to use the complaint form. You may write a letter instead. If you write a letter, it must contain all of the information requested in the form and be signed by you or your authorized representative. Incomplete information will delay the processing of your complaint. Employment civil rights complaints will not be accepted through this email address.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Send your completed complaint form or letter by mail, fax, or email.

By Mail**U.S. Department of Agriculture****Director, Center for Civil Rights Enforcement**1400 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, DC 20250-9410Fax (202) 690-7442E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov
 
                        -          Program Compliance and Training Contacts        **Name****Title****Phone****Email Address**Darren Kaihlanen   Branch Chief, Program Compliance405-446-2619  Darren.Kaihlanen@usda.govRobert HarrisEqual Opportunity Specialist202-720-0834Robert.Harris@usda.govRalph DeleonEqual Opportunity Specialist706-530-3350Ralph.Deleon@usda.govElizabeth Messervey   Equal Opportunity Specialist   618-998-6141  Elizabeth.Messervey@usda.govCraig Stroman   Equal Opportunity Specialist   302-358-4244craig.stroman@usda.govIvelisse Valentin   Equal Opportunity Specialist   202-690-4767   Ivelisse.Valentin@usda.govMichele WittEqual Opportunity Specialist859-224-7324michele.witt@usda.govBrenda Woolard   Equal Opportunity Specialist   919-873-2012 brenda.woolard@usda.govRailly McDaniel Equal Opportunity Specialist505-807-3576Railly.McDaniel@usda.govCarmita CollinsEqual Opportunity Specialist785-271-2750Carmita.Ragan-Thompson@usda.govSy WaldonEqual Opportunity Specialist805-984-2358 ext 112Sy.Waldon@usda.gov 
                        -          Program Compliance Library/Hot Topics        
Browse the USDA E-Forms site to find forms 400-1, 400-4, 400-6, 400-8. 
- Equal Opportunity Agreement Form RD 400-1
- Assurance Agreement Form RD 400-4
- Compliance Statement Form RD 400-6
- Compliance Review Form RD 400-8
 
                        -          Resource Links        - Directives, Administrative Notices (ANs), Electrical Sample Documents, Form Letters, Guide Letters, Handbooks, Informational Publications, Instructions, Procedure Notices (PNs), Unnumbered Letters (UL)
- Regulations and Guidance: Code of Federal Regulations, Federal Register
- Federal Register Publications
- Program Regulations
- Guidance Documents
- Bulletins
 
                        -          Rural Development Programs and Prohibited Bases        Types of Programs- Assisted – Multi-Family Housing (MFH); Rural Utilities Service (RUS); Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Community Facilities (CF)
- Guaranteed – (*interest credit only*)
- Conducted – Single-Family Housing (SFH); Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS)
- Guaranteed Loans
Discrimination by Type
Learn about the various types of discrimination prohibited by the laws enforced by RD Instruction 1901-E and 7 CFR Part 15 Subpart A. We also provide links to the relevant laws, regulations and policy guidance, and also fact sheets, Q&As, best practices, and other information.
- Age
- Disability
- Income Derived From Public Assistance
- National Origin
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Retaliation
- Sex
- Language Barriers
- Familial Status
- Marital Status
- Sexual Orientation