Equity at IVFC

Equity statement

At Illinois Valley Family Coalition, equity means reducing the barriers that keep people from getting help when they need it.

We serve a rural community where many residents face poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, disability, limited transportation, unreliable phone or internet access, language barriers, and difficulty navigating public systems. We believe people should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of income, housing status, race, age, disability, language, culture, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, family structure, immigration status, education, or past life circumstances.

Our commitment to equity is practical. It shows up in low-barrier, walk-in services; a no wrong door approach; food access with choice and dignity; help with transportation, documents, showers, laundry, computer access, benefits, housing navigation, and referrals; and partnerships that bring services closer to home for Illinois Valley residents.

We know that trust is built through relationships, consistency, and humility. We strive to listen to community members, learn from lived experience, improve accessibility, strengthen language access, and create a welcoming environment for neighbors, volunteers, staff, and partners.

Nondiscrimination Statement

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 at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, 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: Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.