INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:50-1-5
Issued 6-1-09
1. (a) Each county director or designee initiates and maintains a plan to inform the public that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is administered in a non-discriminatory manner. Each human services center (HSC) must contact local minority group organizations by letter. If there is not a local minority group organization, HSC staff makes a personal or written contact with prominent minority leaders, ministers, teachers, and businessmen in May of each year.
(b) A copy of each letter of notification of non-discrimination is forwarded to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), affirmative action officer. Each HSC maintains a file of all such correspondence that is available for inspection during compliance reviews and audits of SNAP.
(c) Each HSC is responsible for displaying the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) nondiscrimination poster in each reception area.
2. (a) Every effort is made to have the person making the complaint provide the:
(1) name, address, and telephone number or other means of contacting the person alleging discrimination;
(2) location and name of the organization or office which is accused of discriminatory practices;
(3) nature of the incident or action or the aspect of program administration that led the person to allege discrimination;
(4) reason for the alleged discrimination which might include age, race, color, sex, disability, religion, national origin, or political belief;
(5) names, titles, and addresses of persons who may have knowledge of the alleged discriminatory acts; and
(6) date or dates on which the alleged discriminatory action occurred.
(b) All complaints received by OKDHS regarding civil rights are forwarded to the OKDHS Office for Civil Rights affirmative action officer, who serves as the OKDHS civil rights coordinator. The OKDHS affirmative action officer then routes the complaint to the USDA, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS).