Discrimination Complaints

Discrimination complaints submitted for investigation must be based on one or more of the following:

• Age
• Ancestry
• Color
• Disability
• Gender
• Gender Expression
• Gender Identity
• Marital Status
• National Origin
• Political Affiliation
• Race
• Religion
• Retaliation
• Sex
• Sexual Harassment
• Sexual Orientation
• Other

If you think there is discrimination that does not fit any of the factors above but you believe it should be, please state it.

A Complainant can file a complaint verbally or in writing.

• A complainant can email or call direct:
  Sheila Green
  Departmental HR Officer
  2000 San Pablo Avenue, 4th Floor - Suite 420
  Oakland, CA 94612
  Office: (510) 208-3942
  Fax: (510) 645-9318
  Sheila.Green@acgov.org 

The information that the Civil Rights Officer will likely need includes the following:

1. Client/Applicant name and contact information
2. The basis of the complaint (e.g. race, gender, religion)
3. The discriminatory action(s) taken against the complainant (e.g. denial of benefits, no reasonable accommodation made, etc.)
4. The actual date(s) the incident(s) took place.
5. The names, job title, division, location of the individual(s) accused of discrimination.
6. A detailed explanation of the sequence of events which you believe to be discriminatory.
7. The specific action or corrective measure the complainant is seeking.

You can use the [Discrimination Complaint Forms] to submit your complaint.

A complainant must be filed the discrimination complaint with the Agency within 180 days from the date the alleged discriminatory action occurred unless the time for filing is extended by the Civil Rights Officer for good cause.

Upon receipt of the complaint, the Clients' Civil Rights Officer will send a letter to the complainant acknowledging receipt of the complaint within 20 calendar days. The Officer may either contact the person in writing or over the phone to schedule an interview. The interview affords the Officer the opportunity to clarify the issues involved and also allows the person filing the complaint the opportunity to present the complaint in more detail.

The investigation may include reviewing and obtaining copies of relevant documents (Notice of Action, information from files, etc.), interviewing witnesses (workers, supervisors, etc.), and any other actions considered necessary in order to obtain relevant information.

It is important to remember that the complainant is expected to participate and cooperate with the investigation by providing any written material, names of individuals to interview, or any other information, which would assist in the investigation.

A Complainant can file his/her complaint of discrimination with the:

California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Bureau
744 P Street, M.S. 8-16-70
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (866) 741-6241 TTY: (800) 688-4486
Website: http://www.cdss.ca.gov/Reporting/File-a-Complaint/Discrimination-Complaints

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Telephone: (866) 632-9992
Website: https://www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Centralized Case Management Operations
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 509F HHH Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Telephone: (800) 368-1019 TTY: (800) 537-7697
Website: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/complaint-process/

NOTE: The State and Federal agencies have specific time limits in which a complaint must be filed. Please contact these agencies for the applicable time limitations.

Filing a discrimination complaint with the Social Services Agency Civil Rights Officer does not preclude the Complainant from filing a discrimination complaint with any of the agencies listed above.

The Clients' Civil Right Officer will investigate all discrimination complaints received from all agencies above.