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Civil Rights

VAAFM works to ensure equal opportunity and access for all VAAFM employees, job applicants, contractors, and the public. Our mission is to promote a culture of respect and to build positive, inclusive, and enduring relationships with all of our internal and external stakeholders through outstanding customer service, technical assistance, outreach, innovation, partnerships, sustainable programs, and compliance. 

Non-Discrimination Statement          

In accordance with Federal Law and U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, the Vermont Meat Inspection Section is prohibited from discrimination in its programs and services on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, political beliefs, age, disability, national origin, limited English proficiency, and where applicable, marital status, familial/parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender expression), genetic information, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program.

The Agency is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you have questions concerning the ADA, or if you require alternative means for communication or program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Vermont Meat Inspection Program at 802-828-2426 (voice), AGR.MeatInspection@vermont.gov, or via the state telecommunications relay numbers at:

TTY: 711 or (800)253-0191

Voice: 711 or (800)253-0195

Spanish to English:  711 or (877) 253-7244

Limited English Proficiency

If a person is in need of interpretation services, free language assistance is available. Please contact the Vermont Meat Inspection Program (802-828-2426 (voice)), or email atAGR.MeatInspection@vermont.gov
 
The following plan will assist both the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Inspection Service and its recipients in ensuring meaningful access to all programs, service, activities, and benefits to the Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations, communities and groups within Vermont. Meaningful access is considered on the basis of four factors: (1) the number and proportion of LEP persons served or encountered in the eligible service population; (2) the frequency with which LEP individuals come into contact with the program, activity, or service; (3) the nature and importance of the program, activity, or service provided by the program; and (4) the resources available to the recipient and costs.
 
 
 
Useful LEP Links:
 

To File a Program Complaint

To file a complaint of discrimination write or call:

Vermont Human Rights Commission

14-16 Baldwin Street

Montpelier, VT 05633-6301

  (800)416-2010 (in State only)

  (802)828-1625

  Fax: (802)828-2481

  Human.rights@vermont.gov

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Director, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Division  

116 State Street

Montpelier, Vermont 05620

(802) 828-2426

Fax: (802) 828-5981

Email address: AGR.MeatInspection@vermont.gov

 

Title II Grievances (services, programs, activities)

Chief Operating Officer

AHS Secretary’s Office

280 Street Drive

Waterbury, VT 05671

802-241-0440

ahs.secretary@vermont.gov  

 

Vermont Department of Human Resources

Laurie Bouyea-Dumont, HR Manager

Laurie.Bouyea-Dumont@vermont.gov

802-272-5903

 

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Director, Office of Adjudication

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC  20250-9410

Fax: (202)690-7442

Email: Program.intake@usda.gov

Web site: https://www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer

(866) 632-9992 (toll free voice)                    

(800) 877-8339 (Federal Relay Service)

 

Persons with Limited English Proficiency or Disabilities

ADA/ADAAA Grievance Procedure Policy 10.2

Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email.

Les personnes ayant un faible niveau d'anglais (LEP) qui souhaitent déposer une plainte relative au programme, une aide linguistique gratuite est disponible. S'il vous plaît voir les informations ci-dessus sur la façon de nous contacter par téléphone, par courrier ou par e-mail.

Las personas con dominio limitado del inglés (LEP) que desean presentar una queja del programa,  tendrán disponibles asistencia lingüística gratuita. Consulte la información anterior sobre cómo comunicarse con nosotros por teléfono, correo o correo electrónico.

 

and justice for all