Federal Compliance

Northwest Access Fund (NWAF) is a CDFI Certified by the United States Department of the Treasury. NWAF has received financial assistance from the Department of Treasury to assist in operating its programs. As such, NWAF complies with the following federal statutes:

• • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, and national origin.
  • Age Discrimination Act of 1975, prohibiting discrimination based on age.
  • Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, prohibiting discrimination based on sex in educational programs.
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibiting discrimination based on disability.
  • The Fair Housing Act, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.

Nondiscrimination Notice

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of the Treasury policy, NWAF is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. If you believe that NWAF or any of NWAF’s employees have discriminated against you, you are entitled to submit a complaint. See below for the contact information of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity.

Notice to Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons

NWAF has taken reasonable steps to ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to program information and services.

Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

NWAF offers everyone an equal opportunity to benefit from its Treasury-funded programs and services. This includes making reasonable modifications as necessary and ensuring that communication with people with disabilities is as effective as communication with others.

Reasonable Modifications for Individuals with Disabilities

NWAF makes reasonable modifications to policies, practices, or procedures when necessary to avoid discrimination based on disability without imposing undue administrative or financial burdens.

Effective Communication

NWAF ensures that communications with people with disabilities are equally effective as communications with others. If necessary, NWAF provides auxiliary aids and services.

Program Access

NWAF operates each service, program, or activity so that it is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.

Language Assistance

To comply with Federal Regulations to provide language services, Northwest Access Fund (NWAF) has incorporated the following:

Provision of Language Services

NWAF offers a range of written translation and oral interpretation services to ensure meaningful communications with Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals. This includes access to Argo Translation services (https://www.argotrans.com), periodic staff training on the LEP policy, how to access language services, effective working with in-person and telephone interpreters, and cultural and community relations sensitivity. Regular monitoring of our language plan implementation ensures meaningful access to our programs or activities for LEP individuals.

NWAF is committed to effective communication with individuals who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) and partners with Argo Translation, a language service provider. Argo Translation provides instant access to live, human interpreters for on-demand translation and interpretation services in various languages. Additionally, NWAF partners with multiple service providers to facilitate American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation to members of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Our staff is trained to utilize Argo Translation services and our ASL interpretation providers, to ensure effective and culturally sensitive interactions with LEP individuals. By incorporating translation and interpretation into our language assistance strategy, NWAF enhances the accessibility and responsiveness of our programs to meet the diverse linguistic needs of our community.

Awareness of Free Language Assistance Services

NWAF ensures that LEP individuals know the availability of language assistance services at no charge. This includes posting information about free language assistance services on our website, in our promotional materials and presentations, and on our application. 

Language Assistance Plan (LAP)

NWAF has developed a Language Assistance Plan (LAP) to address the identified needs of the LEP populations we serve. Our LAP includes policies and procedures for assessing the language needs of LEP individuals, ensuring effective participation in our assisted programs or activities.