Directory

The Legislative Liaison researches and advises on key bills introduced in the House and Senate potentially impacting civil rights in Michigan. The liaison serves as the key advisor between the Michigan Civil Rights Department and the Governor’s Legislative Affairs Division, executive agencies, legislators and staff, committee clerks and legislative agencies.

The Disability Rights and Compliance Division, known as the ADA Compliance Division until late last year, is made up of four distinct areas: ADA related duties; the Division on Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing; FOIA; and Contract Compliance.

The Finance and Management Services division coordinates and implements the information technology, budgetary, special services and liaison work for the department. These services include:

• Providing on-boarding and off-boarding of staff. Managing laptops and workstations, smart devices and shared intranet and internet services
• Managing IT Equipment, logistics and software requests/deployment. Ensuring compliance with DTMB-IT rules and regulations as well as overseeing cyber security
• Representing the department in cross-departmental commissions and boards designation, including Protect Michigan Commission, Broadband Task Force, State Emergency Manager, and Office of Inspector General
• Leading Emergency Management response, technical assistance, and recovery efforts by the state to state and local emergency managers as well as community-based stakeholders

The Community Engagement and Education division offers training on a range of topics including cultural competency, disability, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, hate crimes and civil rights law by partnering with communities to examine racial and ethnic disparities and the role they play in Michigan's economic and social environment.

This division is also actively engaged in the following groups:

• Advocates & Leaders for Police and Community Trust (ALPACT) - bringing law enforcement and community leaders together to build trust and facilitate communication and cooperation.
• The Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes (MIAAHC) - working towards eliminating hate crimes and bias incidents in Michigan.

The Division on Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing concentrates on serving Michigan residents who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing. From the Not Without Us survey, approximately 7.4% of Michigan residents identify as deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing. The Division's mission is to affirm the indisputable right of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Persons to secure effective communication. The Division receives input and guidance from a thirteen-member Advisory Council appointed by the Governor. The Division engages with state government agencies, relevant entities and community stakeholders in educational awareness and addressing the needs and concerns of individuals who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing. Various services include information and technical assistance to entities required to provide interpreters or other communication-related accommodations, training and workshops, and enhancing awareness about opportunities to create equitable opportunities and policies for effective communication access.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion division develops educational training session and resources designed to increase awareness of implicit bias and its impact in the work we do and the people we serve, including creating tools and resources to help guide and sustain equitable access and providing educational opportunities where organizations can establish a common language, framework, and the steps required to strategically operationalize equity.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion division also engages in the work of establishing internal and external initiatives centered on increasing cultural competency. This division collaborates with multiple sectors of the state, is a part of the Governor's COVID-19 Task Force on Racial Equity and works closely with Equity and Inclusion Officers across the state to establish consistent approaches across state agencies. It also houses the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver program, which waives tuition costs for eligible Native Americans attending Michigan's public colleges and universities. 

The General Counsel provides legal support for the Commission and Department. The position also analyzes pending legislation impacting civil rights in Michigan, and assists the Commission with amicus briefs, resolutions, or other documents.  

The Enforcement Division is charged with investigating complaints of unlawful discrimination under the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) and the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act (PWDCRA). The work of complaint investigations, with the assistance of Legal Affairs, falls primarily to the staff of the Enforcement Division. Approximately 68% of MDCR employees work in the Enforcement Division.