[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
[[Page 54333]]
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