[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34284-34285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16137]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
The Regional Offices of the Administration for Children and
Families; Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of
Authority
This notice amends Part K of the Statement of Organization,
Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
as follows: Chapter KD, The Regional Offices of the Administration for
Children and Families (60 FR 27315), as last amended, May 23, 1995.
This reorganization realigns the functions in Region 5 to support their
streamlining plan. This Chapter is amended as follows:
1. KD.10 Organization. Regions 1, 3, 4, 7 through X are organized
as follows:
Office of the Regional Administrator
(KD1A, KD3A, KD4A, KD7A through KDXA)
Office of Financial Operations
(KD1B, KD3B, KD4B, KD7B through KDXB)
Office of Family Security
(KD1C, KD3C, KD4C, KD7C through KDXC)
Office of Family Supportive Services
(DK1D, DK3D, KD4D, KD7D through KDXD)
After the end of KD2.20 Functions, paragraph D but before KD6.10
Organization, insert the following:
2. KD5.10 Organization. The Administration for Children and
Families, Region 5, is organized as follows:
Office of the Regional Administrator
(KD5A)
Office of Self-Sufficiency Programs
(KD5C)
Office of Community Programs
(KD5D)
KD5.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Regional Administrator is
headed by a Regional Administrator. In addition, the Office of the
Regional Administrator has a Deputy Regional Administrator. The Office
provides executive leadership and direction to state, county, city, and
tribal governments, as well as public and private local grantees to
ensure effective and efficient program and financial management. It
ensures that these entities conform to federal laws, regulations,
policies and procedures governing the programs, and exercises all
delegated authorities and responsibilities for oversight of the
programs.
The Office takes action to approve state plans and submits its
recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families
concerning state plan disapproval. The Office contributes to the
development of national policy based on regional perspectives on all
ACF programs. It oversees ACF operations and the management of ACF
regional staff; coordinates activities across regional programs; and
assures that goals and objectives are carried out. The Office alerts
the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families to problems and
issues that may have significant regional or national impact. It
represents ACF at the regional level in executive communications within
ACF, with the HHS Regional Director, other HHS operating divisions,
other federal agencies, and public or private local organizations
representing children and families.
Within the Office of the Regional Administrator, an administrative
staff assists the Regional Administrator and Deputy Regional
Administrator. The staff directs the development of regional work plans
related to the overall ACF strategic plan; tracks, monitors and reports
on regional progress in the attainment of ACF national goals and
objectives; and manages special and sensitive projects. It serves as
the focal point for public affairs and contacts with the media, public
awareness activities, information dissemination and education campaigns
in accordance with the ACF Office of Public Affairs and in conjunction
with the HHS Regional Director; and assists the Regional Administrator
in the management of cross-cutting initiatives and activities among the
regional components.
The Office provides day-to-day support for regional administrative
functions, oversees the management and coordination of automated
systems in the region, and provides data management support to all
Regional Office components. Administrative functions include budget
planning and execution, facility management, employee relations, and
human resources development. Data management responsibilities include
the development of automated systems application to support and enhance
program, fiscal, and administrative operation, and the compilation and
analysis of data on demographic and service trends that assist in
monitoring and oversight responsibilities. The Office is responsible
for the effective and efficient management of internal ACF automation
process and for oversight of state systems projects for ACF programs.
In coordination with other Regional Office components, it monitors
state systems projects and is the focal point for technical assistance
to states and grantees on the development and enhancement of automated
systems.
B. The Office of Self-Sufficiency Programs is headed by an
Assistant Regional Administrator who reports to the Regional
Administrator and consists of: Child Support Enforcement Branch; AFDC/
Child Welfare Branch; JOBS/Child Care Branch; and Quality Control
Branch.
The Office is responsible for providing centralized program and
financial management and technical administration of certain AFC
formula and entitlement programs, such as Aid to Families with
Dependent Children (AFDC), Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills Training
(JOBS), title IV-A Child Care, Child Care Development and Block Grant,
Child Welfare Services, Family Preservations and Support, Foster Care
and Adoption Assistance, and Child Abuse and Neglect.
In that regard the Office provides policy guidance to states to
assure consistent and uniform adherence to federal requirements
governing formula and entitlement programs. The Office reviews cost
estimates and reports for ACF entitlement and formula grant programs,
and recommends funding levels. It is also responsible for managing all
aspects of the AFDC quality control function.
A Financial/Grants Management Officer is located in each branch
(other than Quality Control) of the Office of Self-Sufficiency Programs
to provide expertise in business and other non-programmatic areas of
grants administration and to help ensure that grantees fulfill
requirements of law, regulations and administrative policies.
The Office establishes regional financial management priorities;
reviews cost allocation plans; and makes recommendations to the
Regional Administrator to approve, defer or disallow claims for federal
financial participation in ACF formula and entitlement programs. As
applicable, it makes recommendations on the
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clearance and closure of audits of state and grantee programs, paying
particular attention to deficiencies that decrease the efficiency and
effectiveness of ACF programs and taking steps to resolve such
deficiencies.
The Office represents the Regional Administrator in dealing with
ACF central office, states and grantees on all program and financial
management policy matters for programs under its jurisdiction. It
alerts the Regional Administrator to problems or issues that have
significant implications for the programs.
C. The Office of Community Programs is headed by an Assistant
Regional Administrator who reports to the Regional Administrator and
consists of four Head Start and Youth Branches. The Office is
responsible for providing centralized program and financial management
and technical administration of certain ACF discretionary programs,
such as Head Start and Runaway and Homeless Youth.
A Financial/Grants Management Officer is located in each branch of
the Office of Community Programs to provide expertise in business and
other non-programmatic areas of grants administration and to help
ensure that grantees fulfill requirements of law, regulations and
administrative policies.
The Office establishes regional financial management priorities;
reviews cost allocation plans; and makes recommendations to the
Regional Administrator to approve or disallow costs under ACF
discretionary grant programs. The Office issues certain discretionary
grant awards based on a review of project objectives, budget
projections and proposed funding levels. As applicable, it makes
recommendations on the clearance and closure of audits of state and
grantee programs, paying particular attention to deficiencies that
decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of ACF programs and taking
steps to resolve such deficiencies.
The Office represents the Regional Administrator in dealing with
ACF central office, states and grantees on all program and financial
management policy matters for programs under its jurisdiction. It
alerts the Regional Administrator to problems or issues that have
significant implications for the programs.
Dated: June 26, 1995.
Mary Jo Bane,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 95-16137 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]
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