Special Emphasis Programs are an essential part of the Department of Agriculture's civil rights program. The Office of the Assistant Secretary's Special Emphasis Programs are administered in the Office of Adjudication and Compliance. There are six Special Emphasis Programs:

• African American Program
• American Indian/Alaskan Native Program
• Asian American/Pacific Islander Program
• Disability Employment Program
• Federal Women's Program
• Hispanic Employment Program

The Special Emphasis Programs were created to provide the leadership, coordination, and expertise necessary to address the unique concerns of women, minorities and persons with disabilities in achieving equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and program delivery activities. The purposes of these programs are to: (1) identify and assist in removing barriers to equal opportunity in employment and program delivery activities; (2) initiate and conduct programs and other activities to increase the representation of women, minorities and persons with disabilities where these groups are under-represented; and (3) to conduct and initiate special observances, as well as other educational activities.

The Office of Adjudication and Compliance coordinates special events to celebrate cultural diversity at USDA and to raise awareness of the unique concerns of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. These events are open to all USDA employees. The month the event will be held and the observance is listed below. More detailed information will be posted on the ASCR Web site prior to the event.

January
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday

February
Black History Month

March
National Women's History Month

April
USDA Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

May
Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Cinco De Mayo

June
National Gay and Lesbian Pride Month

August
Women's Equality Day

September
National Hispanic Heritage Month

October
National Disability Awareness Month

November
National American Indian Heritage Month