Civil Rights

The Office of Civil Rights services about 39,700 employees, across 19 regions, all 50 states, and Puerto Rico. Our commitment to the agency is to help develop and maintain a culture that is inclusive of all people from all walks of life, to help maintain a most efficient and effective workforce through the development of civil rights-related competencies, earn and maintain solid public and employee trust through the delivery of prompt, accurate, and effective civil rights services, and create and maintain better connections to present and future generations.

We exist to provide the Agency

• The ability build its capacity to hone civil rights competencies in a way that promotes equality, inclusion, diversity, cooperation, collaboration, and fairness
• Accurate and prompt advice and counsel
• A benchmark standard for accountability of actions or inactions that inhibits progression and promotion of civil rights, and
• Outreach to the most diverse and qualified talent sources available
• The mission of the Civil Rights team is, "To build a culture of inclusion, foster civil rights accountability, and help the agency better connect to present and future generations. Our vision is to inspire everyone to belong, contribute, and succeed.

Mission Statement

To deliver a comprehensive and results-oriented civil rights program for customers while ensuring equality, justice, and full participation in Agency activities and programs. We achieve our mission through civil rights compliance, advocacy, and education.

Vision Statement

To be a model organization which is devoted to fairness and equality in Agency employment and delivery of programs.

• Forest Service Annual EEO Program Status Report, EEOC Management Directive (MD) 715 FY 2019 (792kb pdf)
• Forest Service Annual EEO Program Status Report, EEOC Management Directive (MD) 715, FY 2019 Plan and FY 2018 Accomplishments (947kb pdf)
• Forest Service Reasonable Accommodation Procedures (200kb pdf)

Guiding Principle

• We will do business in a fair, equitable, and neutral manner.
• We will maintain the trust and confidence of our employees and customers.
• We will improve in everything we do.
• We value and understand that managing diversity is a high priority.
• We will advocate open-minded and anti-discriminatory attitudes and behavior of all Agency employees and customers.
• We will assist our leaders in meeting their commitment to equal employment opportunity and in facilitating effective delivery of Agency civil rights programs and activities.

In this role, the Civil Rights staff serves as the focal point for

• Title VII Employment Discrimination Complaint Program
• Title VI Federal Financial Assistance Programs
• Persons with Disabilities ~ Program and Reasonable Accommodation
• Special Emphasis Programs
• Compliance Reviews
• Partnership & Outreach
• Policy Development
• Civil Rights Impact Analysis and Reporting
• Civil Right Training

Civil Rights Counseling

For civil rights counseling intake services (to file a complaint) contact the intake coordinator at 404-347-1908. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities, may contact us through the Federal Relay Service on (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).