Civil Rights
Civil Rights Information
The County of Monterey Department of Social Services (DSS) is committed to respecting your rights when applying for or receiving public assistance programs.
All employees are trained to ensure department-wide compliance with federal, state, and local regulations concerning non-discrimination and disability access. This includes providing effective language interpretive services for persons who are Non-English (NE) speaking, Limited English Proficient (LEP), and persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or have other communication challenges that require equally effective communication. In addition, if you have physical, mental, or emotional conditions that make it hard for you to apply for benefits or meet program requirements please let us know. Persons with physical or mental disabilities have the right to request reasonable accommodations from government agencies to help them access and participate in programs and services. Our policies and procedures for ensuring compliance are outlined in our Civil Rights Compliance Plan.
All employees are trained to ensure department-wide compliance with federal, state, and local regulations concerning non-discrimination and disability access. This includes providing effective language interpretive services for persons who are Non-English (NE) speaking, Limited English Proficient (LEP), and persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or have other communication challenges that require equally effective communication. In addition, if you have physical, mental, or emotional conditions that make it hard for you to apply for benefits or meet program requirements please let us know. Persons with physical or mental disabilities have the right to request reasonable accommodations from government agencies to help them access and participate in programs and services. Our policies and procedures for ensuring compliance are outlined in our Civil Rights Compliance Plan.
You are protected from discrimination under the following Federal and State civil rights laws:
Federal and state civil rights laws ensure that the administration of public assistance and social services programs are nondiscriminatory. These laws as listed below ensure that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal or state financial assistance.
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• The Age Discrimination Act of 1975
• The Food Stamp Act of 1977
• California Civil Code, Section 51 et seq.
• California Government Code, Section 11135 et seq.
• California Government Code, Section 4450
• California Welfare and Institution Codes
• Other applicable federal and state laws and their implementing regulations
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• The Age Discrimination Act of 1975
• The Food Stamp Act of 1977
• California Civil Code, Section 51 et seq.
• California Government Code, Section 11135 et seq.
• California Government Code, Section 4450
• California Welfare and Institution Codes
• Other applicable federal and state laws and their implementing regulations
You are protected from discrimination on the basis of:
• Race, color, national origin (including language), ancestry, ethnic group identification
• Physical or mental disability
• Age, Sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation
• Marital status, domestic partnership
• Medical condition, genetic information
• Religion or political affiliation
• Any other protected basis under federal or state law including protection against retaliation for filing a complaint or participating in a civil rights investigation.
• Physical or mental disability
• Age, Sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation
• Marital status, domestic partnership
• Medical condition, genetic information
• Religion or political affiliation
• Any other protected basis under federal or state law including protection against retaliation for filing a complaint or participating in a civil rights investigation.
How to file a Civil Rights Complaint
If you believe you have been discriminated against while applying for or receiving services from the County of Monterey Department of Social Services or one of its contracted providers, you may file a Civil Rights complaint. To report a discrimination complaint, you can call, make a report in person, or click on one of the following forms which can be filled out electronically:
English | Arabic | Armenian | Cambodian | Chinese | Farsi_Dari | Hindi | Hmong | Japanese | Korean | Lao | Mien | Punjabi | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish | Tagalog | Thai | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
You may file directly with the State of California, the County of Monterey Department of Social Services or the County of Monterey Civil Rights Office.
Completion of the complaint form is helpful but not required. You may file a complaint in writing or verbally. If you need assistance with filing a complaint let any DSS employee know or contact our Civil Rights Coordinator or investigators.
The DSS Civil Rights Coordinator is Lorena Paniagua-Castro, HR Manager, 831-796-1555.
The Civil Rights investigators are Rosalia Lopez, Senior Human Resources Analyst, 831-796-1584, and Ken Keir, Senior Human Resources Analyst, 831-796-1596.
1000 S. Main St., Suite 308
Salinas, CA 93901
831-796-1534
TTY/TTD Phone #: (831) 755-4867
English | Arabic | Armenian | Cambodian | Chinese | Farsi_Dari | Hindi | Hmong | Japanese | Korean | Lao | Mien | Punjabi | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish | Tagalog | Thai | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
You may file directly with the State of California, the County of Monterey Department of Social Services or the County of Monterey Civil Rights Office.
Completion of the complaint form is helpful but not required. You may file a complaint in writing or verbally. If you need assistance with filing a complaint let any DSS employee know or contact our Civil Rights Coordinator or investigators.
The DSS Civil Rights Coordinator is Lorena Paniagua-Castro, HR Manager, 831-796-1555.
The Civil Rights investigators are Rosalia Lopez, Senior Human Resources Analyst, 831-796-1584, and Ken Keir, Senior Human Resources Analyst, 831-796-1596.
1000 S. Main St., Suite 308
Salinas, CA 93901
831-796-1534
TTY/TTD Phone #: (831) 755-4867
Complaint Process
To file a civil rights complaint with or about a program administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), you can file directly with the county's Civil Rights Representative or contact CDSS. Your complaint will be handled by county staff, with the CDSS Civil Rights Unit reviewing the county's investigation for compliance. You have 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination to file.
In accordance with the California Department of Social Services/Civil Rights Bureau, you must be informed that this discrimination complaint process:
• Is focused on identifying and eliminating discrimination
• Will not change benefit levels or eligibility to aid programs
• Will not result in monetary remuneration or compensation
What to Expect After Filing:
• Investigation:
If your complaint requires an investigation, the county's civil rights program staff will investigate it within 60 days of receiving it.
• Review:
The CDSS Civil Rights Unit does not investigate discrimination complaints directly but reviews the county's investigation to ensure it complies with civil rights laws and regulations.
• No Investigation:
If your complaint does not require an investigation, you will be informed in writing within 40 days of when your complaint was received.
Other Avenues for Discrimination Complaints:
• Federal Agency:
You can also file a discrimination complaint with the appropriate federal agency.
• State Hearings:
For matters related to public assistance programs, you can request a State Hearing to have an Administrative Law Judge review the issue.
In accordance with the California Department of Social Services/Civil Rights Bureau, you must be informed that this discrimination complaint process:
• Is focused on identifying and eliminating discrimination
• Will not change benefit levels or eligibility to aid programs
• Will not result in monetary remuneration or compensation
What to Expect After Filing:
• Investigation:
If your complaint requires an investigation, the county's civil rights program staff will investigate it within 60 days of receiving it.
• Review:
The CDSS Civil Rights Unit does not investigate discrimination complaints directly but reviews the county's investigation to ensure it complies with civil rights laws and regulations.
• No Investigation:
If your complaint does not require an investigation, you will be informed in writing within 40 days of when your complaint was received.
Other Avenues for Discrimination Complaints:
• Federal Agency:
You can also file a discrimination complaint with the appropriate federal agency.
• State Hearings:
For matters related to public assistance programs, you can request a State Hearing to have an Administrative Law Judge review the issue.
How to Appeal a Complaint Decision
If you disagree with the County's decision regarding your previously submitted civil rights complaint, including if the Civil Rights Section determined to not investigate your complaint, you may appeal the decision to the California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Section within 30 calendar days of the letter from Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance.
To appeal this decision, contact to California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Section:
Mail: California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Section, 744 P Street, M/S 9-7-04, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (866) 741-6241
TDD/TTY: (800) 688-4486
Website: CDSS Civil Rights
Email: crb@dss.ca.gov
Please refer to the PUB 13 – Your Rights Under California Public Benefits Program for more information regarding appeals.
Other Complaints
If you have a complaint regarding a worker or other DSS staff member, but do not feel this person treated you differently because of your race, gender, disability, or other protected status, this is a program or service complaint. Program and service complaints, also referred to as general complaints, typically results from the inaction of assisting or completing case actions for a customer. General complaints include, but are not limited to, discourteous behavior, long telephone wait times, lack of follow-through, and untimely responses. You can escalate these types of complaints through the supervisor, manager, or Human Resources Branch at 796-1534.
Civil Rights Resources:
• Language Identification Guide
•Language Access and Effective Communication Policy P-130
• Nondiscrimination Policy P-160
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy P-242
• Sexual Harassment Policy P-260
• Title VI Complaint Procedures
Mail: California Department of Social Services Civil Rights Section, 744 P Street, M/S 9-7-04, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (866) 741-6241
TDD/TTY: (800) 688-4486
Website: CDSS Civil Rights
Email: crb@dss.ca.gov
Please refer to the PUB 13 – Your Rights Under California Public Benefits Program for more information regarding appeals.
Other Complaints
If you have a complaint regarding a worker or other DSS staff member, but do not feel this person treated you differently because of your race, gender, disability, or other protected status, this is a program or service complaint. Program and service complaints, also referred to as general complaints, typically results from the inaction of assisting or completing case actions for a customer. General complaints include, but are not limited to, discourteous behavior, long telephone wait times, lack of follow-through, and untimely responses. You can escalate these types of complaints through the supervisor, manager, or Human Resources Branch at 796-1534.
Civil Rights Resources:
• Language Identification Guide
•Language Access and Effective Communication Policy P-130
• Nondiscrimination Policy P-160
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy P-242
• Sexual Harassment Policy P-260
• Title VI Complaint Procedures