Title VI Common Myths
Title VI prohibits gender discrimination
Gender discrimination is not prohibited by Title VI. Other Civil Rights laws prohibit gender discrimination. Title VI only covers race, color and national origin.
Title VI only applies to direct recipients of Federal Funding
Not true. Any entity that is the recipient of Federal financial
assistance either directly or as a pass-thru recipient is
subject to the provisions of Title VI. This includes subcontractors
and subrecipients. Pass thru sub-recipients not only receive
$$. They also receive the requirement to comply with the provisions
of Title VI
Title VI only applies to the specific program in the department that receives federal funding
Not true. Any department that receives federal financial
assistance is completely subject to Title VI, not just the
program. For example, if the Fun Times program in the Parks
and Recreation Department receives a federal grant, the Fun
Times program is subject to Title VI, but so is the whole
Parks and Recreation Department. However, this does not mean
that the full government is subject to Title VI because an
individual program or activity in the Parks and Recreation
Department is federally funded.
Grantors will automatically pull federal funding if you don’t comply with the provisions of Title VI
Not true. Typically, grantors want to see services delivered in a compliant manner. It is not their goal to rescind funding, but rather to ensure that programs funded are delivered in a non-discriminatory manner. Grantors will work with non-compliant grantees to assist them in achieving compliance. When the non-compliance is determined, grantees are typically placed on a corrective action plan to achieve compliance. Outright refusal to comply will often result in funding being terminated.