Civil Rights (Eddy County)

Internal and external advisory boards and committees are diverse with respect to gender, ethnicity, and community representation and will be representative of the population in Eddy County. 2. Diverse nominations weresolicited for committees and advisory boards by personal and letter contacts. 3. Agents and staff know where to locate procedures for handling program and employment complaints from clientele and office personnel. 4. Published program and employment complaint procedures are available to all employees, volunteers, and to the public. All staff members and volunteers have receive training in program complaint concerns at staffe meeting 7 April 08. 5. Agents and staff have an understanding of the complaint process and those issues of compliance and noncompliance. 6. Agents, staff and volunteers have an understand the basis on which program discrimination is prohibited in Extension programs. 7. The USDA “…And Justice for All” poster showing the nondiscrimination policy statement and how to file a civil rights complaint is prominently displayed in office areas visited by the public. 8. Office entrances, routing of clients is such that discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability does not occur. 9. Secretarial help and other support resources is available on a nondiscriminatory basis. 10. All reasonable efforts have been carried out to ensure equal access and integration of clubs. Where program delivery methods are by club: a. In cooperation with Extension staff members, clubs are responsible for their own public notification efforts, i.e., existence of the club, dates, time, and location of organizational meetings. b. In cooperation with Extension staff members, clubs are responsible for inviting all potential members without regard to race, ethnicity, or gender. c. Extension staff members have communication with club members, officers, leaders, and volunteers regarding the value of diversity and the expectations for equal opportunity requirements. d. Equal opportunity requirements are applyed to any setting where clubs meet collectively within a county, region, state, or nationally. e. Club officers and volunteer leaders are provided training and written guidelines on civil rights and equal opportunity requirements. Volunteers are expected to affirm and note an assurance statement of nondiscrimination. f. The membership of all clubs operating in interracial and non-interracial communities are open to all individuals regardless of race and gender. g. Geographic boundaries established for program planning and implementation are done in a nondiscriminatory manner. h. Membership in all clubs is open to both males and females. i. 4H recruitment committees are diverse by race and gender. 11. Work facilities are consistent with rehabilitation regulations and are fully accessible to people with disabilities. 12. Work facilities and programs are accessible to employees, volunteers, customers, clients, and visitors with disabilities. 13. Formulated Civil Rights/Equal Opportunity plans ensure that Extension education benefits are provided to the citizens of the State on a nondiscriminatory basis. 14. Data collection system provides for the identification of eligible population and ensures delivery of program benefits to minority and non- minority customers. 15. A system for collecting and reporting data on potential and actual clientele participation in Extension programs has been established and maintained. 16. A public notification policy is in use informing the public, particularly underrepresented/underserved audiences of all Extension program benefits and of the protection against discrimination. 17. A nondiscrimination statement is used on Extension printed publications, including bulletins, leaflets, circulars, fact sheets, program announcements, and miscellaneous publications including e-mail. 18. A public notification policy informing the public of the availability of reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities whas beeen established. 19. Written instructions to guide staff members on the maintenance, protection and use of clientele mailing lists has been established and maintained. 20. The various mailing lists will be representative of the diversity of the population in the geographic areas being served. 21. Extension programs, methods, content, and places of services are implemented in a manner that ensures nondiscrimination on the basis of sex for all participants in compliance with Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

An outreach program utilizing the community garden concept was initiated with a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. The Eddy County agriculture agent work with designing, planting and growing a vegetable garden. In 2011, thirty eight parents female completed the program, with 39 youth. Over 95% were minority low income, including hispanic, native american. Clientell came from all over New Mexico and West Texas. Contact with preivious clients from the past two years indicate that some are still gardening. This year did not include a meal planning, home preservation, or cooking because Eddy County does not have a home Economics Agent for the entire year. This was really missed and commented upon by the staff at the facility. Nutrition education also was not completed for the same reason. The 2011 impact was signifiantly less then the privious two years.

Strong women and bones program is well attended and is representative of the demographics of the community.
A Spanish speaking worker protections training was held with 18 participants. Four producers were supplied resources to conduct their own training.

Strong women and bones program is well attended and is representative of the demographics of the community.
A Spanish speaking worker protections training was held with 21 participants. Two producers were supplied resources to conduct their own training.

An outreach program utilizing the community garden concept was initiated with a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. The Eddy County agriculture agent work with designing, planting and growing a vegetable garden, the Eddy County Home Ec. Agent worked with nutrition and food preparation and storage. In 2009, twenty six single parents female completed the program, with 39 youth. Over 95% were minority low income.