Nondiscrimination Policy

Community Action of South Mississippi (CASOMS) does not discriminate against any person. We serve everyone equally, regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, or family status. This commitment applies to every program and service we offer.

Our Commitment to Equal Access

We follow all federal and state laws that protect people from discrimination. These laws ensure that every person in our community receives fair and equal treatment when accessing our programs.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Protects against discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in programs that receive federal funding.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 Protects people with disabilities from discrimination and requires programs and services to be accessible.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Protects people with disabilities in all programs that receive federal funding.
Age Discrimination Act of 1975 Protects against discrimination based on age in programs that receive federal funding.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Protects against discrimination based on sex in education programs, including Head Start.
Executive Order 13166 Requires meaningful access to programs and services for people with limited English proficiency.

Formal Policy Statement

Community Action of South Mississippi is committed to operating all programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Any person who believes they have been harmed by any unlawful discriminatory practice may file a complaint by contacting the Executive Director at (228) 769-3292.

A complainant may also file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration at the Office of Civil Rights, Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor, TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Política de No Discriminación

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Community Action of South Mississippi se compromete a operar nuestros programas y servicios sin tener en cuenta la raza, el color y el origen nacional de conformidad con el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964.

Cualquier persona que crea que ha sido agraviada por cualquier práctica discriminatoria ilegal bajo el Título VI puede presentar una queja contactando al Director Ejecutivo al (228) 769-3292.

Un demandante puede presentar una queja directamente con la Administración Federal de Tránsito en la Oficina de Derechos Civiles, Atención: Coordinador del Programa Título VI, Edificio Este, 5to piso, TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Si necesita información en otro idioma, llame al 800-872-5283.

How to Report Discrimination

If you believe you have been discriminated against in any CASOMS program or service, you have the right to file a complaint. You do not need a lawyer. There is no cost to file. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the incident.

Contact CASOMS Directly

You can file a complaint directly with our office. We will review your complaint and respond within 90 days. If we need more information from you, we will contact you in writing. You will have 10 business days to provide any additional information we request.

Vanessa Gibson, Executive Director and ADA Coordinator

5343 Jefferson Ave. / P.O. Box 8723, Moss Point, MS 39562

Phone: (228) 769-3292

Email: makingadifference@casoms.org

File with the Federal Transit Administration

For complaints related to transportation services, you may file directly with the Federal Transit Administration. You do not need to file with CASOMS first.

Office of Civil Rights

Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator

East Building, 5th Floor, TCR

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington, DC 20590

File with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

For complaints related to Head Start, energy assistance, or other HHS funded programs, you may file with the Office for Civil Rights at HHS.

Office for Civil Rights

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20201

Phone: (800) 368-1019

For a detailed description of our complaint investigation process, visit our ADA Complaint Procedure page.

To submit a complaint online, use our ADA Complaint Form.

Language Assistance

Community Action of South Mississippi provides language assistance to people with limited English proficiency. In our service area, approximately 6.76% of residents have limited English proficiency, with Spanish being the most common language spoken after English.

If you need information about our programs and services in a language other than English, we will make every reasonable effort to help you. Please contact us by phone:

800-872-5283 Language Assistance Line

You may also call our main office at (228) 769-3292 or visit our Alternative Formats page to learn about other ways we can provide information to you.

ADA Coordinator

For questions about accessibility, disability accommodations, or any of the protections described on this page, contact our ADA Coordinator:

Vanessa Gibson, Executive Director

5343 Jefferson Ave. / P.O. Box 8723, Moss Point, MS 39562

Phone: (228) 769-3292

Email: makingadifference@casoms.org

CASOMS offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Have You Experienced Discrimination?

If you believe you have been discriminated against in any CASOMS program or service, you have the right to file a complaint. Our ADA Coordinator will review your complaint and respond within a timely manner.