[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52565-52566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26677]


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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 (62 FR 49243), as last amended, September 19, 
1997. This notice reflects the reorganization of Region 8. This Chapter 
is amended as follows:
    After the end of KD7.20 Functions (61 FR 3937, 02/02/96), Paragraph 
D and before KD9.10 Organization (62 FR 31610, 06/10/97) insert the 
following:
    KD8.10 Organization. The Administration for Children and Families, 
Region 8, is organized as follows:

Office of the Regional Administrator (KD8A)
Office of Community and Work Programs (KD8B)
Office of State and Youth Programs (KD8C)

    KD8.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Regional Administrator is 
headed by a Regional Administrator who reports to the Assistant 
Secretary for Children and Families through the Director, Office of 
Regional Operations. The Office is responsible for the Administration 
for Children and Families' key national goals and priorities and 
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 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 provides 
executive representation for ACF in regional external communications, 
and serves as ACF liaison with the HHS Regional Director, other HHS 
operating divisions, other federal agencies and public or private local 
organizations representing children and families.
    The Executive Officer and Administrative and Program Support staff 
provide day-to-day support for regional administrative functions, 
including internal ACF regional budget and financial management, 
performance management, procurement, property management, internal 
systems, employee relations, training, media inquires and public 
affairs activities. This team oversees the management and coordination 
of internal automated systems in the region, and provides systems 
management support to all Regional Office components.
    The Grants Officer, functioning independently of all program 
offices, provides program staff with expertise in the technical and 
other non-programmatic areas of grants administration, and provides 
appropriate internal control and checks and balances to ensure 
financial integrity in all phases of the grants process. The Grants 
Officer and financial staff provide expert grants management technical 
support to the Office of Community and Work Programs and the Office of 
State and Youth Programs to resolve complex problems in such areas as 
cost allocation, accounting principles, audit, deferrals and 
disallowances. The Grants Officer approves and signs all discretionary 
grants.
    B. The Office of Community and Work Programs is headed by an 
Assistant Regional Administrator who reports to the Regional 
Administrator. This office is comprised of two geographic state teams, 
each headed by a Program Manager. Each geographic team is responsible 
for both program and fiscal operations for Head Start, Child Care and 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) within their respective 
states.
    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 TANF. 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 ACF grants. 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, 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. The Office issues discretionary grant awards based on a 
review of project objectives, budget

[[Page 52566]]

projections, and proposed funding levels. As applicable, the Office 
makes recommendations regarding 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 PC Cost and HS Cost 
systems for budget analysis of 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 
entities receiving ACF funding on all matters under its jurisdiction 
and in providing early warnings on problems or issues that may have 
significant implications for ACF programs.
    C. The Office of State and Youth Programs is headed by an Assistant 
Regional Administrator who reports to the Regional Administrator. This 
unit is comprised of two programmatic teams, the Child Support Team and 
the Child Welfare, Youth and Developmental Disabilities Team. Each team 
is responsible for both program and fiscal operations in their program 
areas.
    The Office is responsible for providing centralized, management, 
financial management services, and technical administration of ACF 
formula, block and entitlement programs such as Child Support 
Enforcement, Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, Child Welfare, Family 
Preservation and Support Services, Child Abuse and Neglect, 
Developmental Disabilities 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 ACF 
grants. 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 ACF grants, resolving identified problems and ensuring 
adoption of appropriate procedures and practices that promote policy 
compliance and program efficiency and effectiveness.
    The Office provides financial management oversight for ACF grants 
under its jurisdiction, reviews cost allocation plans, program 
objectives, budget projections, cost estimates and reports. The Office 
performs systematic fiscal reviews and makes recommendations to the 
Regional Administrator to approve, defer, or disallow claims for 
financial participation in ACF grants. As applicable, the Office makes 
recommendations regarding the clearance and closure of audits, paying 
particular attention to financial management deficiencies of ACF 
programs and closely monitors the resolution of such deficiencies.
    The Office oversees the management and coordination of external 
automated systems. The external systems responsibilities include 
monitoring state systems projects and providing technical assistance to 
states on the development enhancement of automated systems. The Office 
represents the Regional Administrator on State systems matters with ACF 
central office, states, contractors and grantees.
    The Office represents the Regional Administrator in dealing with 
entities receiving ACF funding on all matters under its jurisdiction, 
and in providing early warnings on problems or issues that may have 
significant implications for ACF programs.

    Dated: October 2, 1997.
Olivia A. Golden,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 97-26677 Filed 10-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P