Non-Discrimination Statement

Federal Law
When Catholic Social Services provides services under any health program or activity including behavioral health services, any part of which receives Federal financial assistance, Catholic Social Services does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any individual on the grounds of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The foregoing statement is in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d, et. seq.) (race, color, or national origin), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et. seq.) (sex), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et. seq.) (age), and Section 794 of Title 29 (disability) as the same are incorporated in Section 1557 of the Patient Protection Act (42 U.S.C. 18116).

State Law
As a provider of public accommodations by way of offering services to the general public, Catholic Social Services does not discriminate against, or fail or refuse to provide to any person the use of or benefit from such services or accord unequal treatment to any person with respect to such services, on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, disability, or national origin as required by SDCL § 20-13-23.

Religious Legal Protections
As a faith-based, religious organization, Catholic Social Services reserves and protects all of its rights under the federal and state constitutions, statutes, rules, and case law including, without limitation, the Free Exercise Clause of the United States Constitution; the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution; the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb et. seq.; the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc(a)(2), 2000cc – 1(b); 20 U.S.C. § 1681(a)(3) as incorporated into Section 1557 of the Patient Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. § 18116; and SDCL §§ 26-6-36 to 26-6-50, inclusive.

General Policy Statement
When providing behavioral health services and educational and prevention services, Catholic Social Services provides those services to all persons without discrimination on any nonmerit basis. When acting as a child placement agency, Catholic Social Services provides services in a manner that does not conflict with its sincerely held religious beliefs contained in a written statement of faith or other document adhered to but does not decline to provide services on the basis of any person’s race, ethnicity, or national origin as required by 42 U.S.C. § 1996b, and gives due regard to the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et. seq.

File a Complaint
If you believe that Catholic Social Services has failed to provide services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with the Civil Rights Coordinator.  You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email.  If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help. The Civil Rights Coordinator for Catholic Social Services is: Lorinda Collings, 529 Kansas City Street, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701; phone: (605) 348-6086; toll free: 1-800-727-2401; fax: (605) 348-1050; email: css@cssrapidcity.com; TDD: 711.

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington DC 20201, 1-800-868-1019, 800-537-7597 (TDD).  Complaint forms are available at http://ww.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.