[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 

[[Page 34285]]
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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