[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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