The functions and duties of the Bucks County Human Relations Council are to:
- Educate professionals and the general public about hate crimes, acts of ethnic intimidation, and acts of discrimination.
- Identify sources for accurate reporting.
- Encourage ongoing training for local sheriffs, constables and police departments, in order to increase their sensitivity to the reporting of crimes that are not merely vandalism, but have a component of ethnic violence or intimidation.
- Provide a central reporting station (phone referral line)through which all acts of intimidation, discrimination or hate crimes can be channeled with appropriate referral to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission or law enforcement officials.
- Request that the District Attorney urge police departments to prepare incident reports on hate crimes.
2. Foster mutual understanding of the presence and value of diversity.
- Promote positive relationships marked by respect, trust and cooperation among communities, groups and individuals.
- Highlight, through public recognition, individuals and groups providing leadership in this area.
- Use resources from local agencies and/or the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission for training.
- Promote mediation and conflict resolution resources to promote healing among those involved in an incident of violence even as certain legal ramifications are processed.
- Identify and recruit existing community resources qualified to teach conflict resolution techniques.
- Identify a representative leadership pool of qualified and committed persons willing to serve on boards of agencies, institutions and businesses.
3. Promote the use of educational trainings and programs in schools, businesses and community organizations to prevent discrimination, and promote positive awareness of the rich diversity of our county.
- Issues may include, but are not limited to, fair housing practices, loan procedures, Americans with Disabilities Act, discrimination laws within the Commonwealth and sensitivity to cultural diversity.
- Work with media, museums, and other organizations to provide programs which promote cultural diversity, respect for all persons, and non-violent ways of working through differences.
- Seek ways in which to involve Bucks County youth in efforts toward the appreciation of diversity.
- Become a resource for a speakers’ bureau to provide programs relating to discrimination, multiculturalism, diversity and the richness of various ethnic/religious/economic traditions.
- Set its annual goals and objectives and submit periodic reports of its activities to the County Commissioners, for public distribution.
- Seek funding for council programs from foundations, business and corporations.
Rev. February 2016