Title VI Compliance Policy Step 1

Section 601 of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that no person shall “on the ground of race, color or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”   

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) is required annually to review the activities of its Departments to determine whether they are complying with Title VI and submit an annual Title VI plan update to the Auditor of Public Accounts and the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.  As a part of the Annual Compliance Plan the Cabinet has developed a list of Department Compliance Tasks to be completed by each Department within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and all subcontractors, including Local Health Departments (LHD).  Below is a description of the process for Step One. 

Step One is to ensure that all NKY Health staff (including supplemental staff and volunteers) have been informed of their responsibilities and obligations under Title VI.  

In the next sections you will find the CHFS Title VI Compliance Responsibility and Corrective Action Policy.  In addition, Title VI - LEP Policy should be reviewed as well. 

All staff are to receive this policy and must read and acknowledge receipt either by wet signature or by electronic signature through NKY Health’s Learning Management System.  

These acknowledgements will be kept on file and will be available for viewing upon request by the District Director of Health or CHFS Title VI Coordinator, the Auditor of Public Accounts or the Office of Civil Rights. To assist in providing services in a way that is compliant with Title VI, we have a translation provider that can be accessed via phone and, in cases where this is not an option, staff should seek direct translation services as needed via the purchasing system.  For assistance in these areas, please contact the Deputy Director of Health.  If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact the Deputy Director of Health.

• To ensure  the  Cabinet  meets  its  compliance responsibility,  the Cabinet  will  not,  directly  or  through contractual  or  other  arrangements,  on  the basis  of  race,  color  or  national  origin: 

  • Deny any individual  any  service,  financial  aid,  or  other  benefit  provided  under  any  program; 

  • Provide any  service,  financial  aid,  or  other  benefit  to  an individual  which  is  different,  or  is  provided in a  different  manner  from  that  provided to others  under  the  program; 

  • Subject  an  individual  to segregation  or  separate treatment  in  any  matter  related to  the receipt  of any  service,  financial  aid,  or  other  benefit  under  its  programs; 

  • Restrict  any  individual  in  any  way  from  utilizing  any  advantage  or  privilege  given  to  others receiving any  service,  financial  aid or  other  benefit  under  its  programs; 

  • Treat an individual  differently  from  others  in  determining whether  he/she satisfies  any  admission, enrollment,  quota,  eligibility,  membership or  other  requirement  or  condition which individual  must meet  in order  to be  provided any  service,  financial  aid,  or  other  benefit  under  the Cabinet’s programs; 

  • Deny any individual  the  opportunity  to  participate  in a  program  through the  provision  of  services  or otherwise  afford  him/her  an opportunity  to  do so  which is  different  from  that  afforded  others  under a program  including the  opportunity  to participate in the  program  as  an  employee  but  only  to  the extent  set  forth  in  the  law;  or 

  • Deny any individual  the  opportunity  to  participate  as  a  member  of  a  planning  or  advisory  body, which is  an  integral  part  of  a  program. 

• The Cabinet  will  not,  directly  or  through  contractual  or  other  arrangement,  utilize criteria  or methods  of  administration  which  have  the  effect  of  defeating or  substantially  impairing accomplishment  of  the  objectives  of  a program  or  subjecting  individual  to discrimination because of  their  race,  color  or  national  origin. 

• In determining the  site  or  location  of  a  facility,  the  Cabinet  will  not  make  selections  with the  effect of  excluding  individuals  from,  denying  them  the  benefits,  or  subjecting  them  to  discrimination under  any  programs  on the basis  of  race,  color  or  national  origin,  or  with the purpose  or  effect  of defeating  or  substantially  impairing  the  accomplishment  of  the  objectives  of  the  program. 

• Notwithstanding the  foregoing provisions,  the  Cabinet  shall  not  be deemed  to have failed  to comply  with the  Act  if  immediate  provision  of  a  service or  benefit  to  an individual  is  necessary  to prevent  their  death  or  serious  impairment  to their  health  and such  service or  benefit  cannot  be provided except  by  or  through a  medical  institution  which refuses  or  fails  to  comply  with  the  Act. 

If  any  of  the Cabinet’s  Title  VI  Coordinators  find  a  discriminatory  practice,  based  on  the provisions  of Title  VI,  in  a  federally  funded  program  administered by  a Cabinet  department,  the subrecipient  will  be provided  a written  notice  of  the  discriminatory  practice and  will  be  directed to immediately  take corrective  action  to  eliminate  or  cease the  practice.   

NKY Health staff who have  participated in the  practice will  receive written  notice  to immediately  cease  the  discriminatory  practice.   Failure  of an  individual  staff to eliminate or cease the discriminatory  practice  will  result  in appropriate disciplinary  measures  in  accordance  with  the provisions  of  KRS  Chapter  18A  and the  regulations promulgated  pursuant  thereto. 

Subrecipients,  including  those  that  have  entered into  contracts  with  the  Cabinet,  that  are  found  to have engaged  in  a  discriminatory  practice  under  the  provision  of  Title  VI  will be  given  a  written  notice  of the discriminatory practice and will be directed to eliminate or cease the discriminatory practice.  Failure to voluntarily eliminate or cease the discriminatory practice within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notification letter will be considered a violation of the terms of the assistance or contract, and will constitute a basis for suspension or termination of the contract and/or refusal to grant or pay continued federally funded financial assistance. The Cabinet may suspend or terminate the contract and/or refuse to grant continued federally funded financial assistance or payments after written notice to the subrecipient and an opportunity to be heard.  If, after hearing, there is a finding on the record that the discriminatory practice occurred and compliance has not, or cannot be, secured by voluntary means, the Secretary may enter an order suspending or terminating the contract and/or refusing to continue the grant or payments of financial assistance. In the case of a finding that discrimination in violation of Title VI has occurred or is occurring, and voluntary compliance is obtained, the program or subrecipient will be reviewed within three (3) months of the survey, review or complaint that resulted in the finding to determine compliance with Title VI.  A second follow-up review will be conducted within six (6) months of the initial follow-up. 

6/20/2023

• Added Revision Log

4/29/2024

• Changed "Director of Administration and Accounting" to "Deputy Director of Health"