PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
To eliminate unlawful discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries of Federal financial assistance provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as to eliminate unlawful discrimination against those involved in programs and activities conducted by HHS on the basis of any individual's disabilities. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces various civil rights laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on a variety of bases, including race, color, national origin, mental and physical disabilities, and age. These enforcement responsibilities include the community service assurance under which health care facilities assisted by the Hill-Burton Act must provide health care services to all persons residing or employed in the service area without discrimination; the nondiscrimination provisions enacted under the health care and other block grants administered by the Department; and the nondiscrimination provisions of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act that prohibit discrimination on all of the bases listed above, as well as sex and religion. Under Title II, Subtitle A of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, OCR is the HHS agency designated to enforce the nondiscrimination provisions based on disability in programs, services and regulatory activities of public entities relating to the provision of health care and human services. OCR also has responsibility to enforce compliance with Section 1808(c) of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, which contains provisions that prohibit discrimination in placement of children in adoption and foster care settings on the basis of race, color, or national origin. During FY 2003, OCR will begin to carry out enforcement of privacy regulations under HIPAA following the compliance date of April 14, 2003. The HIPAA rule protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information maintained or transmitted by health plans, health providers and clearinghouses.

 ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES;
- Legal and Advocacy Services;
2. LAW, JUSTICE AND LEGAL SERVICES;
- Legal Services - General Services;

 WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Anyone/general public;

 WHO CAN APPLY:
- Anyone/general public;