The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Instruction 113-1 (dated 11/8/05) describes the civil rights requirements for participants in Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). The following is required at the local school food authority (SFA) level.

Any person alleging discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), age, or disability has a right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action. All civil rights complaints within Denver Public Schools’ Food and Nutrition Services Department should be directed to Theresa Hafner. Theresa Hafner can be reached via phone at 720-423-5611 or by email at thafner@dpsk12.net. Complaints can be submitted verbally, in writing, or anonymously. 

Denver Public Schools’ Food and Nutrition Services Department will obtain all necessary complaint information and process the complaint within 90 days. The complaint will be forwarded to Colorado Department of Education, Nutrition Unit. 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA.

The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2. Fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. Email

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.