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Notifying the Public of Rights Under Title VI

 DeSoto Council on Aging

 The DeSoto Council on Aging operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.  
Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI 
may file a complaint with the DeSoto Council on Aging and should be filed within 180 days of date of alleged discrimination.

 For more information on the DeSoto Council on Aging’s civil rights program, the procedures to file a complaint, or to file a complaint contact 
318-872-3700, (TTY 800-846-5277); email dcoa@bellsouth.net. ; 
or visit our administrative office at 404 Polk  Street, Suite A, Mansfield, LA.  
For more information, visit desotocouncilonaging.com.
 
 A complaint may also be filed directly with the:
 Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, 
Attn: Cynthia Douglas, 1201 Capitol Access Road, Baton Rouge, LA  70804 
or (225) 379-1923. 

 Federal Transit Administration, Office of Civil Rights, Attention: 
Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor-TCR, 
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC, 20590.

 

 If information is needed in another language, contact 318-697-9685.

Title VI/ADA Complaint Procedure

The DeSoto Council on Aging’s Title VI / ADA Complaint Procedure is made available in the following locations:

 Hard copy in the central office
Agency Title VI Plan

Agency's Director will receive the complaints.

 

Any individual, group of individuals or entity that believes they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin or disability by the DeSoto Coucil on Aging may file a Title VI/ ADA complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI/ ADA Complaint Form. File initial complaint with the Executive Director at DeSoto Council on Aging.

Any individual having filed a complaint or participated in the investigation of a complaint shall not be subjected to any form of intimidation or retaliation.  Individuals who have cause to think that they have been subjected to intimidation or retaliation can file a complaint of retaliation following the same procedure for filing a discrimination complaint.

 A complaint must be filed with the DeSoto Council on Aging no later than 180 days after the following:
1.       The date of the alleged act of discrimination; or
2.       The date when the person(s) became aware of the alleged discrimination; or
3.       Where there has been a continuing course of conduct, the date on which that conduct was discontinued of the latest instance of the conduct.

 Once the complaint is received, the DeSoto Council on Aging will review it to determine if our office has jurisdiction. (A copy of each Title VI complaint received will be forwarded to the Louisiana 
Department of Transportation and Development within ten (10) calendar days of receipt.) The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing her/him whether the complaint will be investigated
 by our office.

The DeSoto Council on Aging has 45 days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case, the DeSoto Council on Aging may contact the complainant.

 After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue one of two (2) letters to the complainant: a closure letter or a letter of finding (LOF).
  • *A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed.
    *A letter of finding (LOF) summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member,
    or other action will occur.

 If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, she/he has 180 days after the date of the letter or the letter of finding  to do so. A person may also file a complaint directly with the:
Louisiana Department of Transportation, Attn: Cynthia Douglas, 1201 Capitol Access Road, Baton Rouge, LA  70804.

LADOTD will analyze the facts of the case and will issue its conclusion to the appellant within 60 days of the receipt of the appeal. 
 If information is needed in another language, then contact 318-697-9685


Title VI / ADA Complaint Form

 

The DeSoto Council on Aging Title VI / ADA Complaint Procedure is made available in the following locations:

Agency website, if available: www.desotocouncilonaging.com
Hard copy in the central office
Agency Title VI Plan

 
 

Section I
Name:
Address:
Telephone (Home): Telephone (Work):
Email Address:

Accessible Requirments? Format

 Large Print  Audio Tape
TDD Other
Section II
Are you filing this complaint on your own behalf? Yes No
*If you answered "yes" to this question, go to Section III

Please explain why you have filed for a third party:
Please comfirm that you have obtained the permission of the aggrieved party if you are filing on behalf of a third party

Yes

No
Section III

I believe the discrimination I experienced was based on (check all that apply): 

[  ] Race                                                   [  ] Color                                    [  ] National Origin                     [  ] Disability

Date of Alleged Discrimination (Month, Day, Year) ___________________________

Explain as clearly as possible what happened and why you believe you were discriminated against. Describe all persons who were involved. Include the name and contact information of person(s) who discriminated against you (if known) as well as names and contact information of any witnesses. If more space is needed, please use the back of this form.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Section IV
Have you previously filed a Tile VI complaint with this agency? Yes No
Section V

Have you filed this complaint with any other Federal, State, or local agency, or with any Federal or State court?

[  ] Yes                           [  ] No

If yes, check all that apply:

[  ] Federal Agency

[  ] Federal Court                        [  ] State Agency

[  ] State Court                            [  ] Local Agency
Please provide information about a contact person at the agency/court where the compaint was filed.
Name:
Title:
Agency:
Telephone:
Section VI
Name of agency complaint is against:
Contact person:
Title:
Telephone number:

You may attach any written materials or other information that you think is relevant to your complaint.

Signature and date required below

_____________________________________         _________________
Signature                                                                     Date

If information is needed in another language, contact 318-697-9685.

 Please submit this form in person at the address below, or mail this form to:

DeSoto Council on Aging
P.O. Box 996
Mansfield, LA 71052