[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 249 (Thursday, December 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68045-68047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32744]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Regional Offices; 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 (61 FR 50029), as last amended, September 24, 
1996. This Notice reflects the organizational changes for Regions 4, 8 
and 9 and the reorganizations for Region 3 and X.
    I. Amend Notice 61 FR 50029, dated September 24, 1996, Roman 
numeral I, 13th line to read ``amended, May 1, 1995.''
    II. Amend Chapter KD as follows:
    a. KD.10 Organization. Delete in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KD.10 Organization. Regions 4, 8 and 9 are organized as follows:

Office of the Regional Administrator (KD8A)
Office of the Regional Hub Director (KD4A and KD9A)
Office of Financial Operations (KD4B, KD8B and KD9B)
Office of Family Security (KD4C, KD8C and KD9C)
Office of Family Supportive Services (KD4D, KD8D and KD9D)

    b. KD.20 Functions. Delete Paragraph A in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    KD.20 Functions (For Region 8). A. The Office of the Regional 
Administrator is headed by a Regional Administrator who reports to the 
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. 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 direction 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 the 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 regional 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. It represents ACF at the regional level in executive 
communications within ACF, with the HHS Regional Director, other HHS 
operating division, 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 in providing day-to-day support for regional 
administrative functions, including budget, internal systems, employees 
relations, and human resource development activities. The Staff 
develops and implements the regional planning process. It tracks, 
monitors and reports on regional progress in the attainment of ACF 
national goals and objectives. The Staff coordinates public awareness 
activities, information and education campaign in accordance with the 
ACF Office of Public Affairs and in conjunction with the HHS Regional 
Director. It assists the Regional Administrator in management of cross-
cutting initiatives and activities among the regional components, and 
ensures effective and efficient management of internal automation 
processes.
    c. After the end of KD2.20 Functions (60 FR 21211, 05/01/95), 
Paragraph D, and before KD5.10 Organization (60 FR 34284, 06/30/95), 
insert the following:
    KD3.10 Organization. The Administration for Children and Families, 
Region 3, is organized as follows: Office of the Regional

[[Page 68046]]

Administrator (KD3A) Office of Program and Administrative Support 
(KD3B) Office of Family Services (KD3C) Office of Child Development and 
Developmental Disabilities (KD3D).
    KD3.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Regional Administrator is 
headed by a 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, where applicable. The Office 
contributes to the development of national policy based on 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 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 without ACF, with the 
HHS Regional Director, other HHS operating divisions, other federal 
agencies, and public or private local organizations representing 
children and families.
    B. The Office of Program Administrative Support is headed by an 
Assistant Regional Administrator who reports to the Regional 
Administrator. The Office assists the Regional Administrator in 
providing day-to-day support for regional administrative functions, 
including budget, performance management, procurement, property 
management, financial management, external and internal systems, 
statistical analysis, employee relations and human resource development 
activities.
    The Office provides expertise in business and other non-
programmatic areas of grant administration and helps ensure that states 
and grantees fulfill requirements of law, regulations and 
administrative policies. It establishes regional financial management 
priorities. The Office provides cost allocation and financial support 
to the Office of Family Services and the Office of Child Development 
and Developmental Disabilities.
    The Office oversees the management and coordination of automated 
systems in the region, and provides data management and statistical 
analysis support to all Regional Office components. Data management 
responsibilities include the development of automated system 
applications to support and enhance program, fiscal, administrative and 
quality control operations, and the compilation and analysis of data on 
demographic and service trends that assist in monitoring and oversight 
responsibilities. Statistical analysis functions include the review of 
state and federal sampling procedures. The Office is responsible for 
the effective and efficient management of internal ACF automation 
processes 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. The Office represents the Regional Administrator on 
administrative matters and on internal and State systems matters with 
ACF central office, states, contractors and grantees. It alerts the 
Regional Administrator to problems or issues that have significant 
implications for functional areas under its jurisdiction.
    C. The Office of Family Services is headed by an Assistant Regional 
Administrator 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). Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, Child 
Welfare, Family Preservation and Support Services, Child Abuse and 
Neglect and the discretionary Runaway and Homeless Youth Program.
    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 resolve 
identified problems, ensures that appropriate procedures and practices 
are adopted, monitors the program to ensure their efficiency and 
effectiveness, establishes regional financial management priorities and 
reviews cost allocation plans, 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 as well as for the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Program which is a discretionary grant. The Office 
issues discretionary grant awards based on a review of project 
objectives, budget projections, and proposed funding levels. 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, 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.
    D. The Office of Child Development and Developmental Disabilities 
is headed by an Assistant Regional Administrator who reports to the 
Regional Administrator. The Office is responsible for providing 
centralized management, financial management services, and technical 
administration of ACF discretionary and formula grant programs such as 
Head Start, Child Care and Developmental Disabilities 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 with 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,

[[Page 68047]]

and monitors the programs to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness.
    The Office performs systematic fiscal reviews; makes 
recommendations to the Regional Administrator to approve or disallow 
costs under ACF discretionary grant programs; and makes recommendations 
to the Regional Administrator concerning state plan approval or 
disapproval, as applicable. The Office issues 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 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. After the end of KD7.20 Functions (61 FR 3937, 02/02/96), 
Paragraph D, insert the following:
    KDX.10 Organization. The Administration for Children and Families, 
Regional X, is organized as follows: Management Team (KDXA) Service 
Delivery Teams (KDXE) Support Teams (KDXF)
    KDX.20 Functions. A. The Management Team consists of the Regional 
Administrator, a Deputy Regional Administrator, and three Supervisory 
Program Specialists who report directly to the Deputy. In addition to 
being a team member, the Regional Administrator is responsible for 
alerting the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families to problems 
and issues that may have significant regional or national impact.
    The Team provides executive leadership to state, county, city, and 
tribal governments, as well as public and private local grantees to 
ensure effective, efficient, results-oriented program and financial 
management. ACF's primary goal is to assist vulnerable and dependent 
children and families to achieve economic independence, stability, and 
self-reliance. The Team partners with state, local, and tribal 
organizations to promote adherence to federal laws, regulations, 
policies and procedures governing the programs, and exercises all 
delegated authorities and responsibilities for oversight of the 
programs. The Team takes action to approve state and tribal plans and 
submits recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Children and 
Families concerning plan disapproval.
    The Team contributes to the development of national policy based on 
regional perspectives on all ACF programs. It oversees ACF operations; 
manages 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 Team represents ACF at the regional level in executive 
communications within ACF, the HHS Regional Director, other HHS 
operating divisions, other federal agencies, Tribal and Native American 
Organizations, and public or private local organizations representing 
children and families.
    In order to ensure that agency goals are accomplished, the 
Management Team provides leadership to grantees through a staff 
organized in Service Delivery Teams. ACF programs and functions are 
grouped within teams according to current ACF programs and/or 
initiatives. Each team is charged with achieving measurable progress 
towards ACF goals through their work with state, local, and tribal 
grantees, the public, other federal agencies, and internally within the 
Department. The regional team structure is designed to allow ACF to 
respond quickly in a dynamic and changing environment to achieve ACF 
and HHS goals.
    B. The Service Delivery Teams (SDTs) report directly to the 
Management Team. The SDTs are responsible for providing centralized 
management and technical administration of ACF formula, block, 
discretionary, and entitlement grants and programs to assist families 
achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency, and to promote 
safe, healthy, and permanent environments in which children can grow. 
The SDTs review and recommend approval or disapproval of State and 
tribal plans to the Management Team. SDTs recommend issuance of certain 
grant awards based on a review of project objectives, budget 
projections, and proposed funding levels.
    The SDTs provide policy guidance to state, local, and tribal 
governments, and public and private organizations to foster consistent 
and uniform adherence to federal requirements governing formula, block, 
and entitlement programs. The SDTs provide technical assistance to 
states, grantees, and tribes to resolve identified problems; ensure 
that appropriate procedures and practices are adopted; develop and 
implement outcome-based performance measures; and to monitor the 
programs to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness.
    The SDTs represent the Management Team in dealing with the ACF 
Program Offices on all program and policy matters under their 
jurisdiction. Alerts or early warnings are provided to the Management 
Team regarding problems or issues that may have significant 
implications for the programs.
    C. The Support Teams provide administrative and management support 
to the Regional Administrator and Management Team. Members of the 
Support Teams report directly to the Regional Administrator or a member 
of the Management Team. Functions within the Team include day-to-day 
operational management of regional administrative functions such as, 
budget, performance management, procurement, property management, 
employee relations, human resource development activities, planning and 
coordination, and office automation systems.
    The Team includes experts in cash assistance and supportive 
services programs who serve as resources to all teams on issues which 
cross-cut the organization, such as legislative policy up-dates, 
partnership agreements, result measurements, policy guidance, and 
monitoring state systems projects for ACF programs.
    Team members also provide leadership in regional financial 
management matters to the Service Delivery Teams and the Management 
Team, including reviewing cost estimates and reports for ACF grant 
programs, recommending funding levels, and performing systematic fiscal 
reviews. Approve grant awards based on a review of project objectives, 
budget projections, and approved funding plans. Provide funds 
accounting for discretionary grant programs. Establish regional 
financial management priorities and review cost allocation plans.

    Dated: December 18, 1996.
Olivia A. Golden,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 96-32744 Filed 12-24-96; 8:45 am]
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