Minnesota Minnesota

MFIP Employment Services Manual

MFIP Employment Services Manual


4.21 Civil Rights

ISSUE DATE: 09/2020

Everyone applying for or receiving assistance is entitled to information about:

  • · Their civil rights.
  • · The process for filing a complaint if they believe someone working in the MFIP system has discriminated against them.


    • Three separate laws forbid different types of discrimination.

    The discrimination that is outlawed.

    Minnesota Human Rights Law

    Federal Civil Rights Law

    Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Civil Rights*

    Race

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Color

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Creed

    Yes

    No

    No

    Religion

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    National origin

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Disability

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Sex

    Yes

    Yes

    Yes

    Sexual orientation

    Yes

    No

    No

    Public assistance status

    Yes

    No

    No

    Age

    No

    Yes

    Yes

    Political beliefs

    No

    No

    Yes

    * The Minnesota Family Investment Program is subject to SNAP civil rights laws, because MFIP combines cash and SNAP food benefits as 1 benefit.

    Participants may contact different agencies to file a complaint if they believe a human services worker (including an employment counselor working within MFIP) has discriminated against them.

  • · In some circumstances, a person may file the same complaint with more than 1 agency.
  • · Some agencies do not have authority to accept certain types of civil rights complaints.


    • Always give participants enough information about filing complaints so they can decide for themselves which agency (or agencies) to contact.

  • · Use the Employment Services Responsibilities, Rights and Consent (DHS-3172) (PDF) form.
  • · When a participant contacts any of these agencies, that agency will inform the person if it is the appropriate agency to receive the complaint.

    • Agency

    Which laws it enforces

    The contact information for that agency

    Information about the process:

    How soon to file a complaint

    The Minnesota Department of Human Rights

    Minnesota state human rights laws.

    Army Corps of Engineers Centre
    190 East 5th Street, Suite 700
    St. Paul, Minnesota
    55101

    651-539-1100
    1-800-657-3704
    TTY 651-296-1283

    The Minnesota Department of Human Rights web site is available in Somali, Spanish or Hmong.

    This agency will help in the process of filing a complaint.

    Within 1 year.

    Minnesota Department of Human Services

    Minnesota State Human Rights code.

    Office for Equal Opportunity
    P.O. Box 64997 St. Paul, MN 55164-0997

    651-431-3040

    The Civil Rights in Human Services page on the DHS website has more information

    This agency will provide:

  • · Interpreters.
  • · Reasonable modifications for people with disabilities.

    • Within 1 year.

    United States Department of Health and Human Services

    Federal Civil Rights laws applied to human services programs.

    Office of Civil Rights - Region V
    United States Department of Health and Human Services
    233 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 240
    Chicago, IL 60601

    312-886-2359 (voice)
    312-353-5693 (TDD)

    * See below.

    Within 180 days.

    United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

    Civil Rights Laws for (SNAP)

    Director - Office of Civil Rights
    Whitten Building, Room 326W
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

    202-720-5964 (voice/TDD)

    * See below.

    N/A

    * The written complaint to federal agencies must include the following information:

  • · Name, address, and telephone number.
  • · Name and address of the office accused of discriminating against the client, including names of employees involved.
  • · A brief description of the incident, action, or program rule that led the client to allege discrimination. The description should include the basis of discrimination, for example: race, color, national origin.
  • · The date(s) when the alleged discriminatory act occurred.
  • · Names, titles, and addresses of people who may have knowledge of the alleged discriminatory act.

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