Notice of Nondiscrimination

New Oakland Family Centers complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate, exclude people, or treat people less favorably on the basis of race, color, national origin, including limited English proficiency or primary language, sex, age, or disability.

Services for People with Disabilities

New Oakland Family Centers provides reasonable modifications and appropriate auxiliary aids and services, free of charge and in a timely manner, when necessary to ensure that individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in our health programs and activities and to communicate effectively with us.

These services may include:

• Qualified sign-language interpreters;
• Qualified interpreters for individuals with other communication disabilities;
• Information in alternate formats, including large print, Braille, audio, and accessible electronic formats; and
• Other appropriate auxiliary aids, services, or reasonable modifications based on an individual’s needs.

Language Assistance Services

New Oakland Family Centers provides language assistance services, free of charge and in a timely manner, when reasonably necessary to provide meaningful access to individuals whose primary language is not English or who have limited English proficiency.

These services may include:

• Qualified oral interpreters;
• Qualified translators;
• Translated written or electronic documents; and
• Other appropriate language-assistance services.

You will not be charged for language assistance services, auxiliary aids and services, or reasonable modifications that are required under applicable federal law.

How to Request Language Assistance, Auxiliary Aids or Services, or a Reasonable Modification

To request language assistance, an auxiliary aid or service, an accessible format, or a reasonable modification, you may:

• Tell any New Oakland Family Centers staff member;
• Call 800-395-3223;
• Use TTY or a telecommunications relay service, including 711, if appropriate; or
• Contact the Section 1557 Coordinator listed below.

Please let us know what type of assistance or accommodation you need. Appropriate assistance will be provided free of charge when required by law.

Section 1557 Coordinator

The Section 1557 Coordinator is responsible for coordinating New Oakland Family Centers’s compliance with Section 1557, including receiving and processing grievances involving alleged discrimination.

How to File a Grievance With New Oakland Family Centers

If you believe that New Oakland Family Centers has discriminated against you or another person on the basis of race, color, national origin, including limited English proficiency or primary language, sex, age, or disability, or has failed to provide required language assistance, reasonable modifications, or appropriate auxiliary aids and services, you may file a grievance with the Section 1557 Coordinator.

A grievance may be submitted in person, by mail, by fax, or by email using the Section 1557 Coordinator contact information listed above.

Your grievance should include, to the extent available:

• Your name and contact information;
• A description of what happened;
• The date or approximate date of the incident;
• The person or department involved, if known;
• The basis of the alleged discrimination; and
• Any other information that may help us understand and resolve your grievance.

New Oakland Family Centers will provide for the prompt and equitable review and resolution of Section 1557 grievances.

If you need assistance filing a grievance because of a disability or limited English proficiency, appropriate auxiliary aids, services, and language assistance will be provided free of charge.

The identity of a person filing a grievance will be kept confidential except when disclosure is required by law or is necessary to investigate or resolve the grievance.

New Oakland Family Centers prohibits intimidation, threats, coercion, retaliation, or other discrimination against any person because that person filed a grievance, exercised a right protected by Section 1557, or participated in an investigation or proceeding concerning Section 1557.

Filing an internal grievance does not prevent you from filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights or pursuing other rights or remedies available under law.

Filing a Civil Rights Complaint With the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

You may also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

Complaints generally must be filed within 180 days of when you knew that the alleged discriminatory act or omission occurred. The Office for Civil Rights may extend that deadline when good cause exists.

Complaints may also be filed electronically through the HHS Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal.

Website Access

This Notice of Nondiscrimination and information about free language assistance services, auxiliary aids and services, and reasonable modifications are available on the New Oakland Family Centers website at: newoakland.org/language-assistance

If you have difficulty accessing this website or need this notice in an alternate format, call 800-395-3223  or contact the Section 1557 Coordinator Christina Bonacorsi, MA, LPC, ACS.