[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54330-54334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26065]


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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 KB, the Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families (ACYF) (63 FR 58742), as last amended, November 2, 1998; 
Chapter KF, the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) (63 FR 
42050), as last amended, August 6, 1998; and Chapter KP, the Office of 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration (ODASA) (63 FR 
69297), as last amended, December 16, 1998. This notice reflects the 
realignment of the formula, entitlement and block grants function 
within ACF.
    These Chapters are amended as follows:

1. Chapter KB, Administration on Children, Youth and Families

    A. Delete KB.10  Organization 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)
Office of Management Services (KBA1)
Office of Grant Management (KBA2)
Office of State Systems (KBA3)
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)
Immediate Office/Administration (KBG1)
Program Operations Division (KBG2)
Policy Division (KBG3)
Technical Assistance Division (KBG4)

    B. Delete KB.20 Functions, Paragraph A, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    KB.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Commissioner serves as 
principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, 
the Secretary, and other officials of the Department on the sound 
development of children, youth, and families. It provides executive 
direction and management strategy to ACYF components. The Deputy 
Commissioner assists the Commissioner in carrying out the 
responsibilities of the Office.
    In the immediate Office of the Commissioner, research and 
evaluation staff plan and manage major research, evaluation, and data 
analysis activities. Additional staff perform special projects for the 
Office of the Commissioner. In addition to the Immediate Office, the 
Office of the Commissioner contains three organizational units. In 
support of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner and in consultation 
with ACYF programs the:
    1. Office of Management Services manages the formulation and 
execution of the budgets for ACYF programs and for Federal 
administration; serves as the central control point for operational and 
long range planning; functions as Executive Secretariat for ACYF, 
including managing correspondence, correspondence systems, and 
electronic mail requests; reviews and manages clearance for program 
announcements for ACYF, the Administration for Native Americans, and 
the Administration on Developmental Disabilities; plans for coordinates 
the provision of staff development and training; provides support for 
ACYF's personnel administration, including staffing, employee and labor 
relations, performance management and employee recognition; manages 
procurement planning and provides technical assistance regarding 
procurement; plans for/oversees the discretionary grant paneling 
process; reviews and approves formula and entitlement programs for 
ACYF's bureaus and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities; 
manages ACYF-controlled space and facilities; performs manpower 
planning and administration; plans for, acquires, distributes and 
controls ACYF supplies; provides mail and messenger services; maintains 
duplicating, fax, and computer and computer peripheral equipment; 
supports and manages automation within ACYF; provides for health and 
safety; and oversees travel, time and attendance, and other 
administrative functions for ACYF.
    The Office of Management Services also provides management and 
technical administration of formula and entitlement programs 
administered by the following ACF program offices: ACYF and ADD. It 
assures that all formula and entitlement awards conform with applicable 
statutes, regulations, and policies; computes grantee allocations; 
prepares formula and entitlement awards; ensures incorporation of 
necessary grant terms and conditions; monitors grantee expenditures; 
analyzes financial needs under formula and entitlement programs; 
provides data in support of apportionment requests; prepares reports 
and analyses on the grantee's use of funds; maintains liaison and 
coordination with appropriate ACF and HHS organizations to ensure 
consistency between ACF formula and entitlement grant systems and the 
Department's grant payment systems;

[[Page 54331]]

and performs audit resolution activities for formula and entitlement 
programs.
    2. Office of Grants Management provides management and technical 
administration for discretionary grants for ACYF, the Administration on 
Developmental Disabilities (ADD), and the Administration for Native 
Americans (ANA); reviews, certifies and/or signs all discretionary 
grants; assures that all discretionary grants awarded by ACYF, ADD, and 
ANA conform with applicable statutes, regulations, and policies; 
computes grantee allocations, prepares discretionary grant awards, 
ensures, incorporation of necessary grant terms and conditions, and 
monitors grantee expenditures; analyzes financial needs under 
discretionary grant programs; provides data in support of apportionment 
requests; prepares reports and analyses on the grantee's use of funds; 
maintains liaison and coordination with appropriate ACF and HHS 
organizations to ensure consistency between ACYF, ADD, and ANA 
discretionary grant systems and the Department's grant payment systems; 
provides technical assistance to regional components on discretionary 
grant operations and technical grants management issues; and performs 
audit resolution activities for ACYF, ADD, and ANA discretionary grant 
programs. The Office of Grants Management coordinates and maintains 
liaison with the Department and other federal agencies on discretionary 
grants management and administration operational issues and activities.
    3. Office of State Systems (OSS) approves advanced data processing 
planning documents; and reviews, assesses and inspects planning, design 
and operation of state management information systems. It directs state 
systems activities on partnership, collaborative efforts, and technical 
assistance activities. The Office provides leadership for provision of 
technical assistance to States on information systems projects; and 
advances the use of computer technology in the administration of child 
welfare and social services programs by States.
    The Office reviews, analyzes, and approves/disapproves State 
requests for federal financial participation for automated systems 
development and activities which support the Child Care, Child Welfare, 
and Foster Care programs. It provides assistance to States in 
developing or modifying automation plans to conform to federal 
requirements. It monitors approved State systems development 
activities; conducts periodic reviews to assure State compliance with 
regulatory requirements applicable to automated systems supported by 
Federal financial participation. It provides guidance to States on 
functional requirements for these automated information systems. IT 
promotes interstate transfer of existing automated systems and provides 
assistance and guidance to improve ACF's programs through the use of 
automated systems.

II. Chapter KF, Office of Child Support Enforcement

    A. Delete KF.10 Organization in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KF.10 Organization. The Office of Child Support Enforcement is 
headed by a Director and consists of:

Office of the Director (KFA)
Office of Central Office Operations (KFB)
Division of Audit (KFB1)
Division of Program Operations (KFB2)
Division of Policy and Planning (KFB3)
Division of Consumer Services (KFB4)
Division of State and Local Assistance (KFB5)
Office of Automation and Special Projects (KFC)
Division of Child Support Information Systems (KFC4)
Office of Grants Management (KFD)
Office of Mandatory Grants (KFG)

    B. Delete KF.20 Functions, Paragraph A, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    KF.20 Functions. A. Office of the Director. The Director is also 
the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families and is directly 
responsible to the Secretary for carrying out OCSE's mission. The 
Deputy Director/Commissioner has day-to-day operational responsibility 
for Child Support Enforcement programs. The Deputy Director/ 
Commissioner assists the Director in carrying out responsibilities of 
the Office and provides direction and leadership to the Office of 
Central Office Operations, Office of Automation and Special Projects, 
Office of Grants Management and the Office of Mandatory Grants.
    The Office is responsible for developing regulations, guidance and 
standards for States to observe in locating absent parents; 
establishing paternity and support obligations and enforcing support 
obligations; maintaining relationships with Department officials, other 
federal departments, State and local officials, and private 
organizations and individuals interested in the CSE program; 
coordinating and planning child support enforcement activities to 
maximize program effectiveness; and approving all instructions, 
policies and publications issued by OCSE staff.
    C. KF.20 Functions. Add paragraph E. Add the following to establish 
paragraph E.
    E. Office of Mandatory Grants is headed by a Director who reports 
to the Deputy Director/Commissioner and provides management and 
technical administration of formula, entitlement and block grants 
administered by the following ACF program offices: OCSE; Office of 
Family Assistance (OFA); Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and 
Office of Community Services (OCS). It assures that all formula, 
entitlement and block grant awards conform with applicable statutes, 
regulations, and policies; computes grantee allocations; prepares 
formula, entitlement and block grant awards; ensures incorporation of 
necessary grant terms and conditions; monitors grantee expenditures; 
analyzes financial needs under formula, entitlement and block grant 
programs; provides data in support of apportionment requests; prepares 
reports and analyses on the grantee's use of funds; maintains liaison 
and coordination with appropriate ACF and HHS organizations to ensure 
consistency between ACF formula, entitlement and block grant systems 
and the Department's grant payment systems; provides technical 
assistance to ACF program and regional components on formula, 
entitlement and block grant operations and technical grants management 
issues; and performs audit resolution activities for formula, 
entitlement and block grant programs. For OCSE and the other program 
offices served, provides liaison with the Department and other federal 
agencies on formula, entitlement and block grants management and 
administration operational issues and activities.

III. Chapter KP, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration

    A. Delete KP.00 Mission in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KP.00 Mission. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration 
serves as principal advisor and counsel to the Assistant Secretary for 
Children and Families on all aspects of personnel administration and 
management, information resource management, financial, grants policy 
and procurement issues, staff development and training activities, 
organizational development and organizational analysis, administrative 
services and facilities management and state systems policy. Oversees 
the Executive Secretariat Office, the ACF Equal Employment Opportunity 
and Civil

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Rights program and all special initiatives activities for ACF.
    B. Delete KP.10 Organization in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KP.10 Organization. The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Administration is headed by the Deputy Assistant Secretary who 
reports to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. The 
Office is organized as follows:

 Immediate Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration (KPA)
 Office of Information Services (KPB)
 Office of Financial Service (KPC)
 Office of Acquisition Services and Organizational Development 
Initiatives (KPD)
 Office of Customer Service Administration (KPE)
 Office of State Systems Policy (KPF)
 Executive Secretariat Office (KPG)
 Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights (KPH)
 Office of Human Resource Management (KPJ)
 Office of Administrative Services and Facilities Management 
(KPL)

    C. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph A, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    KP.20 Functions. A. Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration (ODASA) directs and coordinates all administrative 
activities for the Administration for Children and Families. The Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Administration serves as ACF's Chief Financial 
Officer (CFO); ACF's Chief Grants Management Officer; Federal Manager's 
Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) Management Control Officer; Principal 
Information Resource Management Official serving as ACF's Chief 
Information Officer responsible for implementing the Information 
Technology Management Reform Act; and Reports Clearance Officer. The 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration serves as the ACF liaison 
to the General Counsel and, as appropriate, initiates action in 
securing resolution of legal matters relating to management of the 
agency, and represents the Assistant Secretary on all administrative 
litigation matters.
    The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration provides day-to-
day executive leadership and direction to the Immediate Office of the 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, Executive Secretariat 
Office; Office of Administrative Services and Facilities Management; 
Office of Customer Service Administration; Office of Equal Employment 
Opportunity and Civil Rights; Office of Human Resource Management; 
Office of Information Service; Office of Financial Services; Office of 
Acquisition Services and Organizational Development Initiatives; and 
Office of State Systems Policy. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration represents the Assistant Secretary in HHS and with other 
Federal agencies and task forces in defining objectives and priorities, 
and in coordinating activities associated with reinvention and 
continuous improvement initiatives. The Immediate Office of the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary is responsible for overseeing ODASA's salaries and 
expenses budget. Provides direction to meet the human resource 
management needs within ODASA; coordinates with the office which 
handles ACF's human resources activities and the Department to provide 
ODASA staff with personnel services including position management, 
staffing, recruitment, employee and labor relations, employee 
assistance, payroll, staff development and training, and special hiring 
and placement programs; and maintains systems to track personnel 
actions to keep the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration and, 
as appropriate, the Directors of offices within ODSAS informed about 
the status of personnel actions, and employee programs and benefits. 
All ODASA personnel related issues, performance management activities 
and other administrative functions within ODASA are handled within this 
office.
    D. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph C, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    C. The Office of Financial Services (OFS) supports the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Administration in fulfilling ACF's Chief 
Financial Officer, Management Control Officer, and Chief Grants Officer 
responsibilities including preparation of the CFO 5 Year Plan; performs 
audit oversight and liaison activities, including preparing reports to 
Congress, Office of the General Counsel and the Office of the Inspector 
General. OFS writes/interprets financial policy and researches 
appropriation law issues; oversees and coordinates ACF's Federal 
Manager's Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) activities; performs debt 
management functions; develops and administers quality assurance, 
training and certification programs for grants management; and is 
responsible for the annual preparation and audit of ACF's financial 
statement requirements. It develops/interprets internal policies and 
procedures for OFS components and coordinates the management of ACF's 
interagency agreement activities.
    OFS provides agency-wide guidance to program and regional office 
staff on grant related issues; including developing and interpreting 
financial and grants policy, coordinating strategic grants planning, 
facilitating policy advisory groups, and assuring consistent grant 
program announcements. OFS prepares, coordinates and disseminates 
action transmittals, information memoranda, and other policy guidance 
on financial and grants management issues; provides financial and 
grants administration training and technical assistance to ACF staff 
and grantees; directs and/or coordinates management initiatives to 
improve financial administration of ACF mandatory and discretionary 
grant programs. OFS also develops and delivers grants management 
training to ACF program and financial staff.
    E. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph D, in its entirety and replace 
with the following.
    D. The Office of Acquisition Services and Organizational 
Development initiatives (OASODI) provides leadership of assigned ACF 
special initiatives arising from Departmental, federal and non-federal 
directives to improve service delivery to customers and to enhance the 
employee work environment; develops policy and procedures for 
implementing organizational development activities; advises the 
Assistant Secretary, through the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration, on all aspects of organizational analysis including: 
planning for new organizational elements; and planning, organizing and 
performing studies, analyses and evaluations related to structural, 
functional and organizational issues, problems and policies to ensure 
organizational effectiveness; and provides centralized management and 
administration of acquisitions for ACF headquarters and regional 
components.
    The Office of Acquisition Services and Organizational Development 
Initiatives serves as the ACF liaison with the Department and other 
federal and non-federal agencies to coordinate assigned cross-cutting 
ACF management improvement initiatives identified by the Department to 
improve service delivery to customers and to enhance the employee work 
environment. These assigned management initiatives include coordination 
and implementation of the HHS and ACF employee work life program; 
administrative guidance and support to the HHS and ACF Labor-Management 
Partnership Councils; coordination of Departmental and other employee 
surveys; and coordinating the

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development of strategies and completing reports on progress of 
minority initiatives. The Office provides guidance to ACF program/
staff/regional offices in developing strategies and implementation of 
initiatives; seeks counsel and advice from the Department and other 
federal agencies; and develops evaluation instruments to measure the 
success of ACF initiatives. The Office manages and coordinates 
designated incentive awards program. The Office also handles various 
federal initiatives.
    The Office advises the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Administration on ACF organizational development activities; develops 
policies and procedures for implementing organizational development and 
other management improvement projects or programs; and applies tools 
and techniques such as re-engineering practices to design 
organizational development interventions aimed at improving ACF 
processes.
    The Office provides technical assistance to ACF components on 
developing and finalizing reorganization proposals. As appropriate, the 
Office serves as liaison to the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary 
for Management and Budget to coordinate organizational proposals 
requiring Secretarial approval; and prepares functional statements and 
official organizational charts. The Office administers ACF's system for 
review, approval, and documentation of delegations of authority.
    The Office manages and administers all acquisitions for ACF 
headquarters and regional components; assures that all contracts 
awarded conform to applicable statutes, regulations and policies; 
develops ACF policies, procedures and instructions for the award and 
administration of all ACF acquisitions; reviews and interprets proposed 
HHS and OMB regulations; circulars and directives pertaining to 
acquisition management; solicits, negotiates, awards, modifies, 
terminates and close all acquisition issued by ACF; conducts the 
agency's Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Program; and 
provides training and technical assistance to program and staff 
components on significant acquisition policies and procedures. OASODI 
serves as the lead for ACF in coordination and liaison within ACF and 
with the Department, OMB, GSA and other federal agencies on procurement 
management issues and activities.
    F. Delete KP.20 Functions, Paragraph E, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    E. The Office of Customer Service Administration (OCSA) develops 
and maintains a customer service plan for the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Administration (DASA) and conducts customer surveys for 
the DASA; facilitates and assists in developing and writing standard 
operating procedures for all components within the Office of the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Administration (ODASA); assists in office-
specific training of ODASA staff; assists ODASA components with the 
provision of office-specific and functional training to program and 
regional offices; coordinates permanent and temporary teams formed 
within ODASA; develops and maintains ODASA staff directory and users' 
guide for ODASA services.
    G. Delete KF.20 Functions, Paragraph F, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    F. Office of State Systems Policy is responsible for developing 
departmental policies and procedures under which States obtain Federal 
financial participation in the cost of automated systems development to 
support programs funded under the Social Security Act. It serves as the 
departmental focal point and coordinator for the development and 
implementation of strategies and policies related to payment integrity, 
welfare systems integration, electronic benefit transfer and related 
initiatives and programs; and provides leadership and guidance to 
interagency work groups in these areas for the Department.
    The Office provides policy guidance, management leadership and 
coordination regarding the optimum inter-operation of the multitude of 
complex Federal, State, local, tribal and private information 
technology systems used to carry out ACF programs. The management 
leadership and coordination is provided in the areas of systems 
assessments, systems design and planning, systems integration, data 
exchanges, information management, information security and electronic 
information exchanges. The Office leads ACF activities associated with 
business continuity contingency planning and with information 
technology partnership planning which occurs between ACF and its 
program partners.
    H. Delete KF.20 Functions, Paragraph H, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    H. Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights (OEEOCR) 
serves as the principal advisor through the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Administration to the Assistant Secretary on all aspects of the 
Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights program.
    Serves as the liaison between ACF and the HHS Office for Civil 
Rights. The Office directs and manages the ACF Equal Employment 
Opportunity and Civil Rights program in accordance with Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations and HHS 
guidelines. Immediate oversight is provided by a staff under the 
direction of the ACF EEO Officer. Plans, develops, and evaluates 
programs and procedures designed to identify and eliminate 
discrimination in employment, training, incentive awards, promotion and 
career opportunities. Responsible for implementing and evaluation a 
cost-effective, timely, and impartial system for processing individuals 
complaints of discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964, as amended. Provides information, guidance, advice, and technical 
assistance to ACF supervisors and mangers on Affirmative Employment 
planning and other means of achieving parity and promoting work force 
diversity. Responsible for ensuring that ACF-conducted programs do not 
discriminate against recipients on the basis of race, color, national 
origin, age or disability. Monitors and implements civil rights 
compliance actions under Title VI, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973, as amended and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as 
amended. Implements the applicable provisions of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990.
    I. Delete KF.20 Functions, Paragraph J, in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    J. The Office of Human Resource Management (OHRM) directs and 
manages the personnel operations and services for the Administration 
for Children and Families (ACF). Provides advice and assistance to ACT 
managers in their personnel management activities including workforce 
planning, recruitment, selection, position management, performance 
management, and designated performance and incentive awards. Provides a 
variety of service to ACF employees, including provision of employee 
assistance services and career, retirement and benefits counseling. 
Serves as ACF liaison to the Department on all payroll matters. 
Provides the following personnel administrative services: the exercise 
of appointing authority, position classification, awards authorization, 
personnel management evaluation, personnel action processing and 
recordkeeping. Manages the merit promotion, special hiring and 
placement programs. Provides leadership in directing and managing 
agency-wide staff development and training activities for ACF.

[[Page 54334]]

    The Office provides leadership, oversight, and coordination for the 
planning, analysis, and development of human resource policies and 
programs. Serves as liaison between ACF, the Department, and the Office 
of Personnel Management. Provides technical advice and assistance on 
policy, legal and regulatory matters. Formulates and interprets 
policies pertaining to all areas related to personnel administration 
and management. Formulates and interprets new human resource programs 
and strategies.
    Formulates and oversees the implementation of ACF-wide policies, 
regulations and procedures concerning all aspects of the Senior 
Executive Service (SES), and SES equivalent recruitment, staffing, 
position establishment, compensation, award, performance management and 
other related personnel areas. Manages the performance recognition 
systems and the responsibilities of the Executive Resources Board (ERB) 
and the Performance Review Board (PRB). Coordinates the Schedule C and 
Executive personnel activity with the Office of the Secretary. Is the 
focal point for data, reports, and analyses relating to SES, Schedule C 
and other executive personnel, such as those in Executive level 
positions.
    Provides management advisory service on all labor management and 
employee relations issues. Plans and coordinates ACF-wide employee 
relations and labor relations activities, including the application and 
interpretation of the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program, 
collective bargaining agreements, disciplinary and adverse action 
regulations, and appeals. Pursues human relations innovations such as 
alternative dispute resolutions. Provides leadership in assuring the 
integrity, effectiveness and impartiality of ACF's alternative dispute 
resolution programs, grievances, and merit systems program. 
Participates in the formulation and implementation of policies, 
practices and matters affecting bargaining unit employees' working 
conditions by assuring management's compliance with the Federal Labor 
Relations Program (5 U.S.C. Chapter 71).
    Administers ACF's personnel security responsibilities and ethics 
program. Coordinates the ethics program with the Department's Office of 
Special Counsel for Ethics.
    The Office is responsible for the functional management of all 
program, common needs and management training in the agency, including 
policy development, guidance, and technical assistance and evaluation 
of aspects of program, career, employee, supervisory, management and 
executive training. Provides leadership in managing/overseeing and 
monitoring the ACF Training Resource Center.

    Dated: September 28, 1999.
Olivia A. Golden,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 99-26065 Filed 10-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M