The Office of Title VI Compliance helps City departments handle civil rights complaints. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, sex, age, religion, and sexual orientation.

We ensure the City meets federal non-discrimination requirements, and we review, audit, and investigate complaints through an informal resolution process. Our work doesn’t replace lawsuits, HR complaints, or proceedings before courts or boards.

Under supervision of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the Office of Title VI Compliance:

• Reviews and audits federally funded programs to ensure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
• Implements existing non-discrimination federal requirements.
• Provides procedural guidance to City departments on resolving civil rights grievances promptly and fairly.
• Trains department liaisons to ensure compliant deployment of non-discrimination policies.
• Reviews effectiveness of the City of Philadelphia’s non-discrimination policy and makes recommendations for improvement.
• Oversees the formal complaint intake process and assesses the legitimacy and jurisdiction of grievances through a non-legally binding, non-appealable resolution process.
• Investigates complaints by collecting documents, interviewing affected individuals and parties involved, and then issues recommendations for resolution.
• Maintains and archives confidential records of complaints, investigations, and resolutions for at least three years.