Welcome to the NPA website for Outreach, Diversity & Equal Opportunity (ODEO). The Northern Plains Area values the diversity of our employees, and embraces the full spectrum of diversity. If you are a current employee, an applicant for employment, a student looking for temporary employment, or someone just wanting to learn more about NPA and diversity, the links contained on this page should prove to be very useful. Additional information and current job openings can be found on our NPA Careers page. On this Page: ODEO-Related Employee Resources Resources for NPA Recruiters Training - including the Online Civil Rights Training Modules Disability Resources Special Emphasis Observances Civil Rights Policy Statements NPA Workforce Participation Data Helpful Links: ARS Office of Outreach, Diversity & Equal Opportunity (ODEO) * Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) * Hispanic Serving Institutions (HACUs) * Tribal Colleges (TCUs) * 1890 Schools - Historically Black Landgrant Schools * Sharepoint Links: NPA ODEO Sharepoint Site NPA ODEO Quarterly Reports Sharepoint Site NPA Diversity Task Force Sharepoint Site

Careers in the NPA NPA Diversity Task Force Voices Publication

Staff:

• Barbara King - NPA ODEO Program Manager
  2150 Centre Ave, Bldg D, Ste 300, Fort Collins, CO 80526
  Phone: 970-492-7053
  Fax:  970-492-7065
  E-mail:  Barbara.King@ars.usda.gov

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• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Employees who are experiencing personal or work-related problems can seek help to resolve those problems with a professional counselor through the Employee Assistance Program.  Problems relating to family/relationships, workplace issues, personal/emotional, alcohol/drugs, health, and behavioral can all be addressed through counseling.  Employees can call the EAP program at any time: 1-800-222-0364, or TTY 1-888-262-7848 to make an appointment with a counselor.  No referral is necessary, and services are confidential. 
  • Supervisors may also contact the EAP for assistance with resolving workplace problems, and supervisors can also refer employees to the EAP.
  • EAP Links:
    • EAP Home Page
    • AFM - EAP Overview
      
• Cooperative Resolution Program
  • This program offers mediation for workplace issues from ARS employees who have completed a mediation training course.  Additionally, this office also offers workshops on a variety of workplace related topics.
    
• Civil Rights Complaint Process
  • If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you have the right to contact the ARS Office of ODEO and speak directly with a counselor.

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• NPA Policy Memo - PM-04-002 - Recruitment Procedures for Cat 1 and Cat 4 Scientists (PDF)
  
• ARS ODEO Outreach and Recruitment, Recruiter’s Resources
  • Those conducting searches are encouraged to review the materials contained in “Recruiter’s Resources” under “Related Links)
    
• AFM - Tips on Interviewing *
  
• Recruiting Individuals With Disabilities – EARN Works *

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• NPA Online Civil Rights Training Modules
  • Note: The following presentations and quizzes have been designed for use by USDA - ARS employees only.  Any other use is at your own risk. For information regarding the training itself, please contact your training coordinator. For information regarding the quizzes, please contact the Webmaster.
  • Please Select a Module From the list below:
    (If prompted, choose "Open")
    • Sexual Harassment Prevention 
    • Workplace Violence Prevention
  • When you have completed a quiz, print out the Results Page and give it to your Training Coordinator.
• AgLearn *
• USDA Graduate School *
  • List of courses available *

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• Reasonable Accommodations Brochure (PDF)
• ARS P&P 122.2 - Reasonable Accommodation Procedures
• EARN - Recruiting Disabled Individuals:
  • The Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN), a program with the U.S. Department of Labor, is a wonderful recruiting resource for employers. Employers simply post their vacancies with EARN, and EARN then forwards that posting to their network of employment service providers who work with people with disabilities. The process is quick, effective, and FREE! Click on the link to get started with EARN: http://www.earnworks.com *

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The following seven months have been designated by the ARS Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity (formerly known as the ARS Civil Rights Staff) as being the Agency’s officially recognized Special Emphasis Observances.  These observances are derived from the Special Emphasis Programs which have been designed to increase workforce participation among these populations.  Many locations choose to celebrate each of these observances, while other locations choose to celebrate the array of diversity by holding an annual or bi-annual diversity awareness event, such as a day-long series of workshops, a pot luck meal featuring cultural foods, or some other event.  Locations may also choose to hold workshops, host presentations, or hold other events that are intended to raise awareness among employees about a wide range of topics relating to diversity, equal opportunity, civil rights, etc.

• January: Martin Luther King Day
• February:  Black History Month
  • infoplease© - Black History Month Information *
• March:  Women’s History Month
• May:  Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month & Jewish American Heritage Month
• June:  National Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
• September:  National Hispanic Heritage Month
• October:  National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• November:  American Indian Heritage Month

Other Significant Observances:

• History of Juneteenth (PDF)

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• 2008 Civil Rights Policy Statement - USDA Secretary Edward T. Schafer (PDF)
• FY 2008 Diversity/Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement - Dr. Knipling (PDF)
• FY 2008 NPA EEO/Civil Rights/Diversity Policy Statement - Dr. Blackburn (PDF)

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• Demographic data on the NPA workforce is compiled annually in the MD-715 (annual report required by the EEOC of all federal agencies).
  • FY 06: NPA Workforce Participation Data (PDF)

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