Affirmative Employment and Compliance Branch

The Affirmative Employment and Compliance Branch is responsible for compliance and enforcement activities related to the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity statutes and regulations applicable to programs and activities receiving financial assistance from USDA and NRCS. The Branch monitors and tracks applicants for employment and provides guidance to states preparing their Affirmative employment Plans. This information is used to complete the Agency’s MD-715 report.

Special Emphasis Program activities and support are an integral part of the Civil Rights Program. Within their respective programs, Special Emphasis Program Managers assist with ensuring that equal opportunity is present in all aspects of NRCS programs and services. This includes assisting with identifying under representation and providing advice and assistance to management officials in order to help them meet civil rights program goals and objectives. NRCS has the following Special Emphasis Programs:

Black Emphasis Program
Federal Women's Program
Asian American/Pacific Islander Emphasis Program
Hispanic Emphasis Program
American Indian/Alaska Native Emphasis Program
Disability/Veterans Emphasis Program

In addition, the Affirmative Employment and Compliance Branch conducts comprehensive equal opportunity compliance reviews to measure program effectiveness such as compliance practices, recruitment methods, contracting procedures, accessibility of the program, complaint processing, staff composition, and monitoring systems.

The Branch manages and facilitates the preparation of Agency Position Statements on alleged external program complaints; provides technical assistance to the Agency on program complaint processing and effective ways of preventing and resolving complaints; conducts inquiries and fact-finding conferences to facilitate the early resolution of complaints; identifies and defines systemic barriers to program participation and recommends program changes where appropriate.

Staff