Civil Rights

The nondiscrimination statement was included on all Home Economics publications, flyers, press releases, columns for newspapers, and marketing tools. Civil Rights has been discussed during staff meetings and new agents have been informed as to where and what the civil rights files are and what information needs to be kept in the file. Civil Right guidelines were followed during personnel interviews.

In November 2010 the agent presented a food safety program in Spanish for about 50 parents and students in the NMSU College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).

In January 2011 the agent presented food safety information in Spanish to 60 farm workers and agency representatives in Hatch. This was part of a training conducted by the Department of Workforce Solutions.

The agent also had Spanish language material available at all community events in which the agent participated. These community events included Diabetes Wellness Day, City of Las Cruces National Night Out, Tresco Employee Benefits fair, Hatch Chile Festival, Ciclovias and multiple community health fairs.

Civil Rights for all home economics programs are taken into consideration from the planning to implementation stage. Here are some examples:
•Annual Child Care Givers Workshop. Participants who speak only Spanish are assisted during the sign up process by a local translator. Translators are provided during the workshop for anyone who is in need of the service. In 2011 32% of the participants spoke only Spanish, therefore a separate track of workshops were created. The presenters spoke only Spanish during the presentation, allowing the particpants to learn in their native tongue.
•Diabetes Cooking School. Allowances for wheelchairs, walkers, etc. are made when setting up the meeting room, planning group recipes, etc. Safety precautions are given to all participants regarding entering and exiting the building before and after class as well as during an emergency situation. Because of the high population of Hispanics in Lea County, one (1) diabetes cooking school was done in Spanish. Recipes and participant materials have been available in English and Spanish.

Civil Rights has been discussed during staff meetings and all CES staff has been informed as to where and what the civil rights files are and what information needs to be kept in the file.

Civil rights plans are supported by Lea County Extension personnel through Equal Employment Opportunity statements on newsletters, fliers, brochures, and press releases and also through programming efforts offered by the LES. Programming plans are made to ensure that every effort is made to meet the requirements for Civil Rights. Programs in the county share reflect this effort as our office is ensuring that we are meeting the needs of the minority clients.
The make-up of the LES agents Advisory Committee is consistent with the demographics in the county and representation is evident. The advisory committee meets annually and is active in the programming efforts for the LES in Agriculture, Home Economics and 4-H programming.