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Civil Rights: Civil Rights Compliance Information

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ (DHS) Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) Office makes sure agencies, contractors, grantees, and subrecipients that receive federal funding for programs and services follow federal and state rules that protect against discrimination based on membership in a protected class when they deliver services.

The CRC Office is responsible for developing and implementing DHS Civil Rights Compliance Requirements for recipients of federal funds.

Federal civil rights laws apply equally both to DHS and its counties, agencies, contractors, subrecipients, and grantees when federal financial assistance is extended. Federal civil rights laws and other statutes such as Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as amended, and other applicable regulations confer analogous authority to DHS to develop and implement likewise assurances of compliance of recipients of federal funds that operate programs, services, and activities with federal financial assistance.

The CRC Office also investigates discrimination complaints against counties, agencies, contractors, subrecipients, and grantees receiving federal financial assistance.

File a civil rights complaint

You can file a complaint if you feel you’ve been discriminated or retaliated against by a DHS program or service because of your:

  • Age
  • Color
  • Disability
  • National origin
  • Race
  • Religious or political belief (depending on the program)
  • Sex (gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy)
  • Filing of a prior civil rights complaint

Use the below form to file a complaint. There are also instructions you can use to help you file.

Civil rights compliance requirements for 2022-2025

The Civil Rights Compliance Requirements describe what agencies receiving federal funds from DHS and Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) must do to ensure nondiscrimination in service delivery, including providing access to individuals with limited English proficiency and individuals with disabilities.

These CRC requirements are intended to meet the civil rights requirements of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services (USDA-FNS) by getting assurances from DHS recipients that they will comply with applicable federal civil rights provisions. Recipients are required to submit a CRC Letter of Assurance and, for larger recipients, to complete a CRC plan for the period of Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31. 2025.

Letters of assurance submissions

Please submit your letter of assurance and accompanying appendices to:

Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Division of Enterprise Services
Bureau of Strategic Sourcing
Affirmative Action Plan/CRC Coordinator
1 W. Wilson St., Room 672
PO Box 7850
Madison, WI 53707-7850
dhscontractcompliance@dhs.wisconsin.gov

Technical assistance

If you aren’t sure whether a form applies to you, or if you need clarification about a particular requirement or document, contact:

Wisconsin Department of Health Services
CRC Officer
1 W. Wilson St., Room 651
PO Box 7850
Madison, WI 53707-7850
608-266-1258 (voice)
711 or 800-947-3529 (TTY)
608-267-1434 (fax)
dhscrc@dhs.wisconsin.gov

More resources

Glossary

 
Last revised May 6, 2024