[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 3937-3938] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-2212] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 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 34284), as last amended, June 30, 1995. This reorganization realigns the functions in Region 7 to support their streamlining plan. This Chapter is amended as follows: 1. KD.10 Organization. Regions 1, 3, 4, 8 through X are organized as follows: Office of the Regional Administrator (KD1A, KD3A, KD4A, KD8A through KDXA) Office of Financial Operations (KD1B, KD3B, KD4B, KD8B through KDXB) Office of Family Security (KD1C, KD3C, KD4C, KD8C through KDXC) Office of Family Supportive Services (KD1D, KD3D, KD4D, KD8D through KDXD) After the end of KD6.20 Functions, Paragraph C, insert the following: 2. KD7.10 Organization. The Administration for Children and Families, Region 7, is organized as follows: Office of Regional Administrator (KD7A) Office of State and Tribal Operations (KD7E) Office of Community Operations (KD7F) Office of Program Support (KD7G) KD7.20 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 who reports to the Regional Administrator. The Office provides executive leadership and directives to state, county, city, territorial 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 recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families concerning state plan disapproval. The Office contributes to the development of national policy based on perspectives on all ACF programs. It oversees ACF operations, the management of ACF regional staff; coordinates activities across regional programs; and assures that goals and objectives are met and departmental and agency initiatives 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. The Office 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, The Operations Support team, consisting of administrative staff, assist the Regional Administrator and Deputy Regional Administrator in providing day-to-day support for [[Page 3938]] regional administrative functions, including budget, performance management, procurement, property management internal systems, employee relations and human resource development activities. B. The Office of State and Tribal Operations is headed by a Director who reports to the Regional Administrator. The Office is responsible for providing centralized management, financial management services, and technical administration of ACF formula, block and entitlement programs such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Child Support Enforcement (CSE), Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS), Child Care, Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, Child Welfare, Child Abuse and Neglect and Developmental Disabilities. The Office provides policy guidance to state, county, city or town and tribal governments and public and private organizations to assure consistent and uniform adherence to federal requirements governing formula and entitlement programs. State plans are reviewed and recommendations concerning state plan approval or disapproval are made to the Regional Administrator. The Office provides technical assistance to entities responsible for administering these programs to resolve identified problems, ensures that appropriate procedures and practices are adopted, monitors the programs to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness, establishes regional financial management priorities and reviews cost allocation plans, and oversees the management and coordination of office automation systems in the region and monitors state systems projects for the CSE, AFDC, Child Welfare and JOBS programs. The Office provides financial management services for ACF formula and entitlement grants in the region. The Office also reviews cost estimates and reports for ACF entitlement and formula grant programs and recommends funding levels. The Office performs systematic fiscal reviews and makes recommendations to the Regional administrator to approve, defer or disallow claims for federal financial participation in ACF formula and entitlement grant programs. As applicable, recommendations are made on the clearance and closure of audits of state programs, paying particular attention to financial management deficiencies that decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of the ACF programs and taking steps to monitor the resolution of such deficiencies. The Office represents the Regional Administrator in dealing with the ACF Program Offices on all program and financial policy matters under its jurisdiction. Alerts or early warnings are provided to the Regional Administrator regarding problems or issues that may have significant implications for the programs. C. The Office of Community Operations is headed by a Director who reports to the Regional Administrator. The Office is responsible for providing centralized management, financial management services, and technical administration of ACF discretionary grant programs such as Head Start and Youth Programs. In that regard, the Office provides policy guidance to state, county, city or town and tribal governments and public and private organizations to assure consistent and uniform adherence to federal requirements. The Office provides technical assistance to entities responsible for administering these programs to ensure that appropriate procedures and practices are adopted, and monitors the programs to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness. The Office performs systematic fiscal reviews; 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, recommendations are made on the clearance and closure of audits of grantee programs, paying particular attention to financial management deficiencies that decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of the ACF programs and taking steps to monitor the resolution of such deficiencies. The Office oversees the management and coordination of office automation systems in the region such as the PC Cost and HS Cost systems for budget analysis on Head Start Applications and monitors grantee systems projects such as the Head Start Program Information Report, Head Start Management Tracking System and the Youth Development and Head Start Bulletin Board. The Office represents the Regional Administrator in dealing with ACF program offices on all program policy and financial matters under its jurisdiction. Alerts or early warnings are provided to the Regional Administrator regarding problems or issues that may have significant implications on the programs. D. The Office of Program Support is headed by a Director who reports to the Regional Administrator. The Office is responsible for providing centralized management of the program quality and outcome leadership initiatives, such as child welfare and special populations, early childhood development and self sufficiency. The Office provides cost allocation and audit support to the Office of State and Tribal Operations and the Office of Community Operations. The Office provides leadership, coordination, program expertise and planning for the outcome leadership functions. The Office provides technical assistance and team leadership regarding the outcome leadership initiatives to entities responsible for administering ACF programs, as well as to the Office of State and Tribal Operations and the Office of Community Operations. The Office conducts analyses of State and Federal performance, including those associated with the Quality Control/ Quality Assurance functions. The Office represents the Regional Administrator in dealing with ACF Offices on all program and financial policy matters under its jurisdiction. Alerts or early warnings are provided to the Regional Administrator regarding problems or issues that may have significant implications for the programs. Dated: January 24, 1996. Mary Jo Bane, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. [FR Doc. 96-2212 Filed 2-1-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184-01-M