Southwest District CES Civil Rights Plan

The Agricultural Agent is aware of the fact that, “Civil Rights compliance by New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service is mandated by federal laws and is directly tied to Extension's receipt of federal funding..

Based on the objective, “County Extension Agent will be able to discuss the importance of Extension Service civil rights compliance and will be able to place compliance records in appropriate files.”, .all programs are advertised in writing as, “New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator.” and verbally as, “All programs are available to everyone regardless of age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, gender, serious medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, spousal affiliation, or veteran status.” Sign-in sheet data is utilized in Otero County’s ES237 report and the data is examined to determine if our program enrollment race ratios are reflective of our county’s race ratios.

Based on the objective, “County Extension Agent will be able to define and explain civil rights parity.” The County Extension Agricultural Agent defines civil rights parity as, "a quantitative goal or balance that results when the percentage of protected classes who are program clientele are within 20 percent of the percentage for each protected class in the potential clientele." and “all people regardless of age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, gender, serious medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, spousal affiliation, or veteran status are equal in the site of their creator and our federal government and are therefore entitled to equal and fair treatment, which is the same kindness, fairness, and respect in every aspect of life one would extend to his or own beloved family member and/or the same manner he/she would wish to be treated himself/herself.”

Based on the objective, “County Extension Agent will be able to define "all reasonable efforts" and cite examples.” the Otero County Agricultural Agent offers the following definition,
The minimum reasonable effort required by extension personnel includes all of the following items:
1. Use of all available mass media, including radio, newspaper, and television, to inform potential program recipients of opportunities to participate.
2. Personal letters and circulars addressed to defined potential recipients inviting them to participate, including dates and places of meetings or other planned activities.
3. Personal visits by the county extension staff member(s) to a representative number of defined potential recipients in the geographically defined area to encourage participation.

To meet the objective, “Internal and external advisory boards and committees are diverse with respect to gender, ethnicity, and community representation and are representative of the population in the geographic areas being served.” the Otero County Cooperative Extension Advisory Board complies with these requirements.

Based on the objective, “County Extension Agent knows where to locate procedures for handling program and employment complaints from clientele and office personnel.” the County Agricultural Agent would access these procedures at: http://cahe.nmsu.edu/ces/civilrights/ or
http://cahe.nmsu.edu/ces/civilrights/how-to-file-a-complaint.html

The agricultural agent implemented the Southwest District CES Civil Rights Plan in the following manner:
All newspaper articles and radio programs, presented by the agricultural agent included the statement: “All Otero County Cooperative Extension Service programs are open to all individuals regardless of race, creed, sex, color, handicap, religion, or national origin.”
All correspondence from this office included the statement: “New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator.”
Otero County Master Gardeners By-Laws state, “Membership consists of all members regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.”
Otero County Cooperative Extension office is making every effort to make sure all publications disseminated by this office are labeled, “New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.”.

“The USDA “…And Justice for All” poster displaying the nondiscrimination policy statement and how to file a civil rights complaint is prominently displayed in the Otero County CES office in areas visited by the public.

Dona Ana County is meeting all responsibilities for civil rights by not discriminating against any group based on, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability in admission or access to its programs or activities. Records are kept in the office to support this statement and are open for review by Federal Authorities or persons requiring proof of authentication. All efforts are made by this Dona Ana County Extension Agent to meet these requirements in a positive and inclusive manner. Spanish language publication materials are included at all events where available and appropriate for the targeted audience. The Extension Agent for Dona Ana County makes every effort possible to include a diverse group of people in his programs.

Hidalgo County CES was internally audited by the Civil Rights Committee in May 2010. The auditors submitted suggestions of changes or additions that needed to be made and the office is making progress on making those changes. The Hidalgo County CES is in compliance to the best of its abilities with filing of proper documentation for its files.

Agent updates EEO poster to reflect current wages, and is keeping track of ADA compliance issues within the extension office.

Hidalgo County Extension Faculty and staff maintain dialogue that ensures every effort to plan programs meets all requirements of Civil Rights. All Hidalgo County Extension programs have the EEO statements and disability compliant on all materials. An effort to include all audiences in our programs is made.

William Wear has signed on to support Southwest District CES Civil Rights Plan within Sierra County.

Agent is working to maintain a diverse group of volunteers to reflect his clientele.