Title VI Compliance

Overview

On May 31, 1993, the State of Tennessee became the first state to pass legislation enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.) in all of its departments, programs and agencies.  Tennessee Code Annotated  § 4-3-1706 provides under Tennessee law that: “It is a discriminatory practice for a state agency receiving federal funds making it subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.), or for any person receiving such federal funds from a state agency, to exclude a person from participation in, deny benefits to a person, or to subject a person to discrimination under any program or activity receiving such funds, on the basis of race, color, or national origin.” [Public Chapter No. 471(2025)].

Accordingly, the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) and any providers who contract with DDA to provide programs and services are required to comply with Title VI. DDA has been given authority and jurisdiction to investigate and handle Title VI complaints related directly to the provision of programs services by DDA or provider agencies who contract with DDA to provide programs and services.

If you believe that there has been a violation of Title VI in the provision of a DDA program or service, please contact either: (1) the Title VI Coordinator/Representative for the provider agency which provides those programs or services; (2) the DDA Regional Title VI Coordinator for the Region where you are located [see “Contact information” tab]; (3) the DDA Statewide Title VI Coordinator [see “Contact information” tab]; (4) the Civil Rights Enforcement Division of the Tennessee Office of the Attorney General; or (45 the federal government through the Title VI Compliance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.