[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8980-8981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4248]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of Family Assistance; 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 of Children and Families (ACF) as 
follows: Chapter KH, The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) (61 FR 
35770), as last amended, July 8, 1996. The Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 authorized the 
implementation of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program 
(TANF) which replaces the national welfare program known as Aid to 
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and related programs known as 
the Job Opportunity and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program and the 
Emergency Assistance (EA) program that were administered by OFA. OFA 
handles policy issues related to the closeout of the AFDC, JOBS and EA 
programs. Other outstanding closeout issues are handled in consultation 
with other responsible ACF components. This Notice reflects the OFA's 
new structure, which refocuses efforts to meet performance goals of 
economic independence for families and healthy development of children. 
Specifically, delete Chapter KH in its entirety, and replace it with 
the following:
    KH.00  Mission. The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) advises the 
Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, 
on matters

[[Page 8981]]

relating to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, 
under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation 
Act of 1996 (PRWORA) (Pub. L. 104-193). This program promotes temporary 
assistance and economic self-sufficiency for children and families. The 
Office provides leadership, direction and technical guidance, with ACF 
Regional Offices, to the States and Territories on the Administration 
of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant and Aid to 
the Aged, Blind and Disabled in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin 
Islands. The Office refocuses efforts to increase economic independence 
and productivity for families. It provides direction and guidance in 
the collection and dissemination of performance and other valuable data 
for these programs. The Office provides technical assistance to States, 
Territories, localities and community groups, and assesses State and 
Territorial performance in administering these programs; reviews State 
planning for administrative and operational improvements; and 
recommends actions to improve effectiveness.
    Delete KH.10 Organization in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KH.10  Organization. The Office of Family Assistance is headed by a 
Director, who reports to the Assistant Secretary for Children and 
Families. The office is organized as follows:

Office of the Director (KHA)
Division of Policy and Program Development (KHB)
Division of Technical Assistance and Training (KHC)
Division of TANF Information Network (KHD)

    KH.20  Functions. A. The Office of the Director is directly 
responsible to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families for 
carrying out OFA's mission and providing direction, leadership, 
guidance and general supervision to the principal components of OFA. 
The Office is headed by the Director for Family Assistance. The Deputy 
Director assists the Director in carrying out the responsibilities of 
the office. The Executive Assistant assists the Director, Deputy 
Director and OFA Divisions in providing general oversight of 
management, administrative and personnel activities and in coordinating 
the formulation and execution of program and administrative budgets.
    Delete KH.20 Functions, Paragraph B in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    B. The Division of Policy and Program Development provides 
direction and guidance in the nationwide administration of the 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs, under the Personal 
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) 
(Pub. L. 104-193) and Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled in Guam, 
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Division proposes legislation 
and implements national policy, develops regulations to implement new 
laws and prepares policy interpretations. The Division provides 
guidance and direction, analyzes, tracks and disseminates information 
on State progress in achieving work participation goals. The Division 
shapes and enables communication between Federal, State and local 
entities to coordinate cross-cutting welfare to work related policies. 
Collaborates with ACF and HHS components on Tribal TANF plans and other 
related programs such as: Head Start, Child Care programs and programs 
related to child welfare. Develops State plan procedures and evaluates 
State TANF plans with internal and external collaboration to identify 
critical issues contained in the plans and amendments; prepares 
congressional materials, testimonies and speeches. Collaborates with 
and provides program guidance to the Office of General Counsel (OGC) on 
litigation.
    Delete KH.20 Functions, Paragraph C in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    C. The Division of Technical Assistance and Training provides 
technical assistance to States, Territories, localities and community 
groups; assists in the assessment of State and Territorial performance 
in administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block 
Grant and Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled in Guam, Puerto Rico and 
the Virgin Islands; and recommends and promotes improvements in 
outcomes for clients. The Division develops and implements strategies 
to assist grantees in implementing and improving their self-sufficiency 
programs. The Division of Technical Assistance and Training develops 
and delivers technical assistance focusing on innovative policy and 
program design approaches resulting in increased employment for needy 
families with children. The Division identifies best practices and 
shares information through conferences, publications, the Internet and 
resource networks. The Division ensures compliance with Federal laws 
and regulations and promotes cross-program policy initiatives to self-
sufficiency and family-focused services. Collaborates with ACF and HHS 
components and other Federal agencies to deliver family-focused 
services. Promotes job development through agreements with other 
Federal agencies and corporations.
    Add KH.20 Functions, Paragraph D. Add the following to establish 
Paragraph D.
    D. The Division of TANF Information Network serves as a 
communication and information center that links other relevant 
national, Federal, State and local organizations and ideas via the ACF 
WELNET (an interactive welfare reform database) in providing guidance 
and direction to promising practices that promote work and success in 
the workplace for low-income individuals. It also collects and 
disseminates program, statistical and financial information about the 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant and Aid to the 
Aged, Blind and Disabled in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 
and other TANF related welfare programs in the United States; and 
pertinent statutes, regulations, program instructions and guidance. The 
Division serves as a catalyst to connect other relevant national, 
Federal, State and local organizations to move effectively, coalesce/
share resources and information relative to increasing the economic 
self-sufficiency of low-income families. The Division has 
responsibility for maintaining and updating several web sites in a 
manner that is designed to provide easy access; targeted, focused, 
useful information; customer-friendly organization and search 
capabilities. The Division compiles, analyzes, and evaluates program 
information for the TANF program making that information available to 
both internal and external parties. The Division responds to welfare 
reform inquiries from the public and private sector from both domestic 
and international entities. The Division also responds to Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) requests.

    Dated: February 15, 2000.
Alvin C. Collins,
Director, Office of Family Assistance.
[FR Doc. 00-4248 Filed 2-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P