Massachusetts Department of Public Health Notice of Compliance under the Federal Non-Discrimination Laws

If you have any questions about this notice or any of Department of Public Health's non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, please contact our Diversity Officers at [phone].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, the Department of Public Health does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.

Sandra Semedo and Luciana Hayner, Diversity Officers and Shauntay M. King, ADA Coordinator are responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7 (Non-discrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal non-discrimination laws).

If you have any questions about this notice or any of Department of Public Health's non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact:

Sandra Semedo and Luciana Hayner
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Managers
250 Washington Street, 6^th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
[phone]  

Shauntay M King
ADA Coordinator
600 Washington Street, 7^th Floor
Boston, Ma 02111
[phone]

If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a Department of Public Health program or activity, you may contact the personnel named above and review the linked pages below.

1. Notice of Non-Discrimination under the Federal Non-Discrimination Laws

The Department of Public Health prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran or disability status.

2. Grievance Procedures to Process Discrimination Complaints filed under the Federal Non-Discrimination Laws

General Policy

The Department of Public Health is committed to providing the opportunity for any protected group members to voice and resolve any alleged infringement of Equal Opportunity or Affirmative Action rights that are assured through state or federal guidelines, executive orders and laws. Accordingly, if any individual feels they have been objectively discriminated, they should contact the Investigations Center of Expertise (COE).

Procedure

The Agency Diversity Officer is a highly placed person who partners with the Investigations COE to conduct investigations of agency’s policy violations. While doing so, he/she makes and preserves complaint records and ensures that applicable rules, regulations and laws concerning confidentiality and privacy are respected.

For more information relating to grievance policies and procedures, visit our Affirmative Action Plan:

Affirmative Action Plan (PDF)  Affirmative Action Plan (DOCX) 

3. Public Participation

The purpose of the Open Meeting Law is to ensure transparency in the deliberations on which public policy is based. Because the democratic process depends on the public having knowledge about the considerations underlying governmental action, the Open Meeting Law requires, with some exceptions, that meetings of public bodies be open to the public. It also seeks to balance the public’s interest in witnessing the deliberations of public officials with the government’s need to manage its operations efficiently.

Please refer to Massachusetts Open Meeting Law for more information.

4. Meaningful Access to Programs and Activities for Persons with Limited English Proficiency

Please refer to the Office of Access and Opportunity's Language Access Policy and Implementation Guidelines (PDF) for details.

5. Meaningful Access to Programs and Activities for Persons with Disabilities

The Department of Public Health will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, terminations, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. A qualified employee or applicant with a disability is an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question.

An individual with a disability is a person who:

• has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
• has a record of such impairment; or
• Is regarded as having such impairment.

The Department of Public Health will make a reasonable accommodation for the known disability of a qualified applicant or employee if it does not impose an undue hardship on the agency.

Learn more about the Department of Public Health ADA Policy on the Affirmative Action Plan:

Affirmative Action Plan (PDF)  Affirmative Action Plan (DOCX) 

Additional Resources

• Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity
• Masschusetts Department of Public Health
• Investigations Center of Expertise
• Executive Order 592: Advancing Workforce Diversity, Inclusion, Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Affirmative Action
• The Open Meeting Law