The Office of Diversity and Civil Rights

Program Responsibilities 

• Affirmative Employment Program (AEP):  The AEP is a legal requirement which mandates agencies to make good faith efforts to recruit, employ, train, promote and retain members of underrepresented, targeted groups and to identify and remove barriers that impede employment opportunities.

• Complaints Management:  Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1614 implements legislation which gives Federal agencies the authority to process complaints in a more expedient manner.  It promotes impartial, fair, and early resolution of complaints.

• Special Emphasis Program (SEP):  The SEP is designed to promote the recruitment, training, upward mobility career counseling and advancement and enhance cross-cultural awareness and promote harmony among the workforce. These activities are extensions of the Diversity and Civil Rights Programs and education and training objectives.

• The most valuable asset of the FWS is our people. A successful organization is a cohesive one, where all members have mutual respect for each other’s diversity and dignity. The first step to understanding and celebrating diversity is through awareness.

• Environmental Justice Program:  The Environmental Justice program requires Federal agencies, including the Service, to ensure that all environmental policies and the disposal of toxic waste do not adversely impact minority and low-income communities.

• Federally Assisted Program:  The Federally Assisted Program is the Civil Rights enforcement program which ensures that recipients of Federal financial assistance do not discriminate against beneficiaries of their programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age and, disability.

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