Equal Opportunity & Civil Rights

Equal Opportunity Plan

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Plan

Individuals eligible for receiving services from or benefiting from programs funded by or through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) are protected by various laws, regulations, rules and policies against unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, age, sex and national origin.

What Is Discrimination?

Discrimination is a direct action, whether purposeful or not, which results in unequal treatment of people. Persons cannot because of their race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, national origin or political affiliation (Food Stamps only):

  • Be denied or delayed any service, aid or other benefit provided under an ODJFS program.

  • Be subjected to segregation or disparate treatment in an ODJFS program.

  • Be given services in humiliating or embarrassing ways.

  • Be provided services using different rules to decide who will get help.

  • Be limited in the use of buildings, rooms or other space in a way that denies individual participation or access.

  • Be denied access to a service because buildings or their facilities are not physically accessible to persons with disabilities or because there was not means of effective communication with the service provider.

The key words are: "because of." If you are denied or delayed equal service and you think it was because of your race, color, religion, disability, age, gender or national origin, you may have been subjected to unlawful discrimination. There is a difference between lawful and unlawful denial or delay of benefits and/or services. Persons may be denied benefits and/or services if they do not meet the eligibility requirements. This is not unlawful, nor discriminatory.

Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

Persons who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) are protected against discrimination based on national origin. Accommodations may include providing qualified interpreters, language cards/lines, oral translation and/or written translation of documents.

Persons with Disabilities

Those individuals who have a hearing or visual impairment are also protected against discrimination. Accommodations may include providing qualified interpreters, oral translation and/or written translation of documents. Accommodation will be provided free of charge.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

The basis for unlawful discrimination in WIOA programs include: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or belief, citizenship (for lawfully admitted immigrants, authorized to work) and WIOA participant status.

Persons wishing to file discrimination complaints about programs funded under WIOA may file their complaints at the LWIA/Ohio Option sub area recipient level or with the ODJFS Bureau of Civil Rights or with the U.S. Department of Labor's Civil Rights Center. All complaints must be filed within 180 days of the incident or treatment causing the complaint.

ODJFS and/or its WIOA recipients must issue a NOTICE OF FINAL ACTION within ninety (90) days of the date of the filing of the complaint. This notice shall also include the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor's Civil Rights Center when any party is dissatisfied with the state recipient's final action. The Bureau of Civil Rights will provide the address and phone number of The Department of Labor at the time of the initiated action.

Food Stamps

Federal law and the policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the local County Department of Job and Family Services (CDJFS) say that we must not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion or political beliefs. To file a discrimination complaint, write or call Athens County Civil Rights Coordinator, ODJFS or USDA.

USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

How Do I File A Complaint?

If you believe that you have been denied or delayed services for which you are eligible because of your race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or age, you must file your complaint within 6 months of the date on which the incident or treatment happened. If the complaint is submitted in writing, you must include the time, place, persons involved, the nature of the complaint, evidence of discrimination, your name, address and phone number.

When complaints are received by the County Civil Rights Coordinator, they shall be referred to the ODJFS Bureau of Civil Rights within three (3) business days of the date of receipt. The Bureau of Civil Rights (BCR) shall conduct its inquiry and issue its Final Report within one hundred, twenty (120) days of the date of filing of the complaint.

Submit complaints by phone or in writing to:

Athens County Department of Job and Family Services
Civil Rights Coordinator
13183 State Route 13,
Millfield, Ohio 45761-9901

Telephone: (740) 797-2523 or Toll-free 1-800-762-3775
TTY hearing impaired: (740) 797-2817
Fax: (740) 797-2447

You may also write or call ODJFS - Bureau of Civil Rights:

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Office of the Employee and Business Services/Bureau of Civil Rights,
30 E. Broad Street, 37th Floor,
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Telephone: (614) 995-9956 or Toll free 1-866-227-6353
TTY hearing impaired: (614) 995-9961 or Toll-free 1-866-221-6700
Fax: (614) 752-6381