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Headquarters Guidance Documents Collection

This page contains guidance documents that DHS headquarters components issue to help the public understand how DHS administers its statutory and regulatory authorities. You can find further information about DHS guidance documents, including guidance documents issued by other DHS components, at https://www.dhs.gov/guidance.

In general, guidance documents lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law or as incorporated into a contract.

  • REAL ID Act of 2005 Implementation: An Interagency Security Committee Guide (2019 Edition)

    The REAL ID Act of 2005 Implementation: An Interagency Security Committee Guide outlines guidance for Federal departments and agencies specifically with regards to alternate access control options for individuals who are unable to present a driver’s license or identification card issued by a REAL ID compliant state.

  • Reference Guide: Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services

    The Reference Guide was originally developed in response to the requirement of H.R. 5441 (PL 109-295), Section 689: Individuals with Disabilities, to develop disability related guidelines for use by those who serve individuals with disabilities in emergency preparedness and disaster relief. This Guide is not intended to satisfy all of the guidance requirements contained in Section 689. Additional guidelines to accommodate individuals with disabilities will be issued in the future.

  • Reasonable Accommodation Guidance for DHS Recipients of Financial Assistance

    The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties provides technical assistance and guidance to DHS recipients in meeting their obligations under federal civil rights laws, which includes providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. The following documents provide information that can assist recipients in developing a reasonable accommodation notice and process for persons with disabilities.  A reasonable accommodation is a change of or modification to afford a qualified individual with a disability full enjoyment of a recipient’s programs or activities, unless modifications of policies, practices, and procedures would fundamentally alter the nature of the program, service, or activity, or result in undue financial and administrative burdens to the recipient.

  • Recommendations for Emergency Managers for Improving the Delivery of Disaster Assistance to Disaster Survivors with Disabilities

    Following DHS listening sessions in many communities heavily impacted by natural disasters in 2017 and 2018, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties makes the following recommendations to state, local, territorial, and tribal emergency managers to improve the delivery of disaster assistance to disaster survivors with disabilities.  The recommendations are grouped by major areas DHS covered in the listening sessions.

  • Developing a Discrimination Complaints Process

    This document outlines the basic elements of a process for receiving and responding to complaints of discrimination from program beneficiaries (e.g., program participants, clients, customers, or consumers, etc.). This document can assist recipients in developing a complaint process for their own organization.

  • DHS Civil Rights Evaluation Tool

    Entities selected to receive a grant, cooperative agreement, or other award of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or one of its Components must complete the DHS Civil Rights Evaluation Tool and submit required data within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Notice of Award or, for State Administering Agencies, thirty (30) days from receipt of this form from DHS or its awarding component.

  • Sample Policy and Notice of Nondiscrimination for Recipients

    Sample policy and notice of nondiscrimination for recipients, provided in Word so that organizations can modify it to fit their needs. Translations provided.

  • Notice to Recipients on Nondiscrimination During Disasters

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds its recipients of federal financial assistance that are engaged in emergency management (e.g., state and local emergency management agencies, other recipients) and their subrecipients of federal funds, of their obligations to ensure that individuals and communities affected by disasters do not face unlawful discrimination in the provision of federally assisted services to disaster survivors.

  • Title VI Overview and Requirements at the Department of Homeland Security

    The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) oversees enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. CRCL coordinates a federally assisted compliance program, and provides guidance and technical assistance to Department recipients to help organizations understand their obligations under Title VI and related civil rights authorities.

  • Limited English Proficiency Guidance for Recipients of DHS Financial Assistance

    DHS offers guidance to its recipients of federal financial assistance on their obligations to provide meaningful access to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) persons, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Department's implementing regulations.