[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 235 (Monday, December 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64592-64593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31964]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Statement of 
Organization, Function, 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, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) as 
follows: Chapter KB, Administration on Children, Youth and Families 
(ACYF) (61 FR 50028), as last amended September 24, 1996. This Notice 
consolidates the child abuse and neglect functions within the 
Children's Bureau.
    I. Amend Chapter KB as follows:
    KB.10 Organization. Delete in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KB.10 Organization. The Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families is headed by a Commissioner who reports directly to the 
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families and consists of:

Office of the Commissioner (KBA)
Division of Program Evaluation (KBB)
Head Start Bureau (KBC)
Program Operations Division (KBC1)
Program Support Division (KBC2)
Children's Bureau (KBD)
Office of Child Abuse and Neglect (KBD1)
Division of Policy (KBD2)
Division of Program Implementation (KBD3)
Division of Data, Research and Innovation (KBD4)
Division of Child Welfare Capacity Building (KBD5)
Family and Youth Services Bureau (KBE)
Child Care Bureau (KBG)
Program Operations Division (KBG1)
Policy Division (KBG2)

    II. Delete paragraph D in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    D. The Children's bureau is headed by an Associate Commissioner who 
advises the Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families, on matters related to child welfare, including child abuse 
and neglect, child protective services, family preservation and 
support, adoption, foster care and independent living. It recommends 
legislative and budgetary proposals, operational planning system 
objectives and initiatives, and projects and issue areas for 
evaluation, research and demonstration activities. It represent ACYF in 
initiating and implementing interagency activities and projects 
affecting children and families, and provides leadership and 
coordination for the programs, activities, and subordinate components 
of the Bureau.
    1. Office on Child Abuse and Neglect provides leadership and 
direction on the issues of child maltreatment and the prevention of 
abuse and neglect under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 
(CAPTA). It is the focal point for interagency collaborative efforts, 
national conferences and special initiatives related to child abuse and 
neglect, and for coordinating activities related to the prevention of 
abuse and neglect and the protection of children at-risk. It supports 
activities to build networks of community-based, prevention-focused 
family resource and support programs through the Community-Based Family 
Resource and Support Program. It supports improvement in the systems 
which handle child abuse and neglect cases, particularly child sexual 
abuse and exploitation and maltreatment related fatalities, and 
improvement in the investigation and prosecution of these cases through 
the Children's Justice Act.
    2. Division of Policy provides leadership and direction in policy 
development and interpretation under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social

[[Page 64593]]

Security Act, and the Basic State Grant under the Child Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment Act. It writes regulations and interprets 
policy for the Bureau's formula and entitlement grant programs, and 
responds to requests for policy clarification from ACF Regional Offices 
and a variety of other sources.
    3. Division of Program Implementation provides leadership and 
direction in the operation and review of programs under titles IV-B and 
IV-E of the Social Security Act, and the Basic State Grant under the 
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. It develops program 
instructions, information memoranda, and annual reports. It analyzes 
State Plans and develops State profiles and other reports; participates 
in monitoring and reviewing State information systems to ensure the 
accuracy and relevancy of the data. It is responsible for the 
Monitoring Team, which schedules and coordinates the monitoring of 
State reviews and ensures effective corrective action if necessary. It 
works with appropriate other agencies and organizations on the 
implementation and oversight of relevant sections of the Indian Child 
Welfare Act. It is the focal point for financial issues, including 
disallowances, appeals, and the decisions of the Departmental Appeals 
Board (DAB). It responds to client and constituent correspondence 
received electronically and from a variety of sources.
    4. Division of Data, Research and Innovation provides leadership 
and direction in program development, innovation, research and in the 
management of the Bureau's information systems under titles IV-B and 
IV-E of the Social Security Act, and under the Child Abuse Prevention 
and Treatment Act. It defines critical issues for investigation and 
makes recommendations regarding subject areas for research, 
demonstration and evaluation. It administers the Bureau's discretionary 
grant programs, and awards project grants to State and local agencies 
and organizations nationwide. It provides direction to the Crisis 
Nurseries and Abandoned Infants Resource Centers. It is responsible for 
the Data and Technology Team which analyzes and disseminates program 
data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System 
(AFCARS), and the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System 
(NCANDS); develops systematic methods of measuring the impact and 
effectiveness of various child welfare programs; performs statistical 
sampling functions; provides comprehensive guidance to States, local 
agencies and others on data collection issues, and performance and 
outcome measures; and is the focal point for technology development 
within the Bureau.
    5. Division of Child Welfare Capacity Building provides leadership 
and direction in the areas of training, technical assistance and 
information dissemination under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social 
Security Act, and under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. 
Either directly or through the Resource Centers, it provides training 
and technical assistance to assist service providers, State and local 
governments and tribes, and strengthen headquarters and regional office 
staff. It manages section 426 discretionary training grants and title 
IV-E training. It directs the operations and activities of the National 
Center on Child Abuse and Neglect Information Clearinghouse and the 
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse. It identifies best 
practices for treating troubled families and preventing abuse and 
neglect. It participates in the development of grant announcements, and 
manages certain discretionary grant projects. It develops and issues a 
periodic newsletter, and is the focal point for conference and meeting 
planning activities for the Bureau.
    III. Delete Paragraph F in its entirety.

    Dated: November 25, 1997.
Donna E. Shalala,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-31964 Filed 12-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M