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Civil Rights Committee 2008 Business Plan

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Civil Rights 2008 Business Plan  (PDF, 116 KB)


Objective: Promote an Active Civil Rights Program for NRCS Idaho
Goal #1 Promote an Active, Visible and Accessible Civil Rights Committee.
Action Item # Description of Action Item Start Date End Date Person(s) Responsible for Action Objective
1. Present CR materials at annual NRCS all DC meeting. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Denis Offer the continued assistance of the CRC to the DC’s, gather important information about civil rights concerns, needs, etc.
2. Attend the National NRCS Civil Rights Committee meeting and bring back action items to improve CR committee knowledge of national activities. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Kim To gather new ideas concerning all aspects of the NRCS Civil Rights Program.  Network and make contacts for recruitment purposes.
3. Attend division management meetings, area meetings, state office meetings and leadership team meetings, as feasible, to discuss Civil Rights programs and offer assistance. 10/1/07 9/30/08 CRC Members Promote Civil Rights Program in Idaho. 
4. Support and follow-up statewide training efforts.  Member of the CR committee to attend each division management team meeting. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Division/SO Reps Help to develop training guide/fact sheet that explains the roles of the committee.
5. Research and develop resource materials defining the roles/expectations of CR committee members. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Dastina To increase functionality of committee and understanding of individual roles.
6. SEPM's include CC to partners with monthly observance mailings. 10/1/07 9/30/08 SEPM's Promote CR awareness among partner agencies.
7. Post CR meeting minutes and make available to all employees on CR website. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Jackie
Kim
Kathy Dingman		 Provide greater awareness to employees on CR committee activities.
8. Invite all employees to CR committee meetings (with supervisor approval). 10/1/07 9/30/08 Division/SO Reps Promote Civil Rights Program in Idaho.
9. Invite the National Civil Rights Committee to hold meeting in Idaho in FY 09. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Kim
(STC letter)		 Increase visibility, communication and accessibility with National CR Committee and Idaho employees.

Goal #2 Promote USDA Employees with information on the purpose, responsibility and activities of the Civil Rights Program.
Action Item # Description of Action Item Start Date End Date Person(s) Responsible for Action Objective
1. Update and expand a communications initiative for addressing civil rights awareness in Idaho. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Dastina
SEPM's Members		 Increase communications of CR through expansion of Website, Highlights, feature articles, news releases and executive updates.
2. Encourage Civil Rights award nominations for FY08 by all employees.  Provide information quarterly through direct email and Newsbytes. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Sue
CRC Members		 Increase nominations for CR awards and spot awards by providing information to employees on the nomination process.
3. Work with leadership team to encourage attendance of NRCS employees at diversity events. 10/1/07 9/30/08 CRC Members

Increase participation in and sponsor diversity events.
4. Conduct SEPM training course in Idaho. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Susan Increase accessibility to training for Idaho's SEPMs.

Goal #3 Provide State Conservationist with information and recommendations regarding the Idaho Civil Rights Program.
Action Item # Description of Action Item Start Date End Date Person(s) Responsible for Action Objective
1. Participate in Civil Rights portion of FO compliance reviews.  (The lead person for the civil rights review will identify CRC members who should participate).  Afterwards Susan will review & summarize field office civil rights reports for CR committee. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Susan
Sue		 Identify common errors occurring in the field offices, to offer advice on critical issues and support for civil rights awards.
2. Assist with Idaho Mentoring Program. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Susan
Nanette		 1. Re-emphasize mentor program (use, availability and improvement needs).
2. Provide training for Mentors.
3. Expand the mentoring program to include students.
3 Contribute info for the AEP report and use AEP objectives to develop Civil Rights Committee business plan. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Sue
CRC Members		 Evaluate Idaho workforce trends to determine effectiveness of increasing diversity in the workforce. 
4. All SEPM's will develop a business plan and submit to the committee and State Conservationist. 10/1/07 9/30/08 SEPM's Identify plan of action for achieving program management goals.
5. Recommend to the National Civil Rights Committee that they investigate ways to purchase supplies from local disabled and/or minority vendors. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Elliot Support local disabled and minority vendors.
6. Inform field offices on how local disabled and minority vendors can sell to government agencies through Action I and GSA. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Elliot
CRC Members		 Support local disabled and minority vendors.

Goal #4 Increase diversity in the Idaho NRCS workforce through recruitment, retention and outreach to help reach the objectives of the AEP report.
Action Item # Description of Action Item Start Date End Date Person(s) Responsible for Action Objective
1. Participate in career fairs and other recruitment activities.  Develop cadres for recruitment events and to help field office staff with recruitment. 10/1/07 9/30/08 CRC Members Promote NRCS careers and opportunities.  Encourage hiring of under-represented groups.
2. Attend MANRRS Conference. 10/1/07 9/30/08 CRC Members
 		 Recruit and make contacts for recruitment.
3. Develop an issue paper on how mobility requirements impact recruitment and retention. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Dee Increase diversity of applicant pool by removing barriers identified in AEP.
4. Include on CR website information on how to develop meaningful KSA questions and responses. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Sue
Dave Hoover		 1. Assist supervisors in developing meaningful KSA questions.
2. Assist employees in writing effective KSA responses.
5. Analyze exit interviews from separated employees and make recommendations to Rich on possible improvements on workforce retention. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Sue
CRC Members		 Improve workforce retention.

Goal #5 Program Delivery (Title VI).
Action Item # Description of Action Item Start Date End Date Person(s) Responsible for Action Objective
1. Provide DC's with information on AG census program. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Kurt Assist DC's in identifying underserved groups in their counties.
2. Provide DC's with information on AgrAbility program. 10/1/07 9/30/08 Chris Allow people with disabilities to continue to work in the Ag field.
3. Research and develop tools to assist field employees in identifying ways to reach out to underserved or non-traditional farmers 10/1/07 9/30/08 CRC Members
Dastina		 Objective-Increase the number of minority participants in farm bill programs.


Certification of the Idaho Civil Right Committee’s Business Plan of Operation

Civil Rights Committee Chairperson ____________________________________________________Date ________________________

 

State Conservationist ________________________________________________________________Date ________________________

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