[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8116-8120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2464]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of Child Support Enforcement; 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 KF, the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) 
as last amended October 6, 1999 (64 FR 54330). This reorganization will 
create an Office of Deputy Commissioner and abolish the Office of 
Central Office Operations. It establishes three new Divisions within 
OCSE--the Division of Management Services, the Division of Planning, 
Research and Evaluation and the Division of Special Staffs. In 
addition, this reorganization renames two Divisions and reassigns 
functions and reporting responsibilities.
    I. Amend Chapter KF as follows:
    a. KF.00 Mission. Delete in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KF.00 Mission. The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) 
advises the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Children and 
Families/Director of Office of Child Support Enforcement, on matters 
relating to child support enforcement. OCSE, in conjunction with 
Regional Offices, provides direction, guidance and

[[Page 8117]]

oversight to State and tribal Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program 
offices and Tribes for activities authorized and directed by title IV-D 
of the Social Security Act and other pertinent legislation. The general 
purpose of the CSE legislation is to permit State and tribes to develop 
programs for establishing and enforcing support obligations by locating 
noncustodial parents, establishing paternity when necessary, obtaining 
child support orders, and enforcing those orders. The specific 
responsibilities of this Office are to: develop, recommend and issue 
policies, procedures and interpretations for State and tribal programs 
for locating non-custodial parents, establishing paternity, and 
obtaining child support; develop procedures for review and approval or 
disapproval of State and tribal plan material; conduct audits of child 
support programs; assist State and tribes in establishing adequate 
reporting procedures and maintaining records for the operation of the 
CSE programs and of amounts collected and disbursed under the CSE 
program and the costs incurred in collecting such amounts; provide 
technical assistance and training to the State and tribes to help them 
develop effective procedures and systems for establishing paternity, 
establishing support orders and collecting child support; operate the 
law enforcement, military and judicial liaison offices; operate the 
United State and tribes Central Authority for International Child 
Support; monitor the access, visitation and fatherhood programs. OCSE 
also operates the mandatory and discretionary grant programs for child 
support as well as several other components within the Administration 
for Children and Families; and reviews and manages the clearance of 
Federal Register Notices for OCSE, and various components of ACF. It 
also coordinates the child support provisions of the Welfare-to-Work 
program; certify applications from State and tribes for permission to 
utilize the courts of the United State and tribes to enforce court 
orders for support against absent parents; operate the Federal Parent 
Locator Service (FPLS); certify to the Secretary of the Treasury 
amounts of child support obligations that require collection in 
appropriate instances; transmits to the Secretary of State 
certifications of arrearages for passport denial; submit reports to 
Congress, as requested, on activities undertaken relative to the CSE 
program; approve advanced data processing planning documents; and 
review, assess and inspect planning, design and operation of State and 
tribal management information systems. The FPLS also assists other 
Federal and State and tribal agencies not involved in child support to 
fulfill their respective missions, save taxpayer dollars, and improve 
service to the public.
    b. KF.10 Organization. Delete 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 & Deputy Director/Commissioner (KFA)
Office of Audit (KFB1)
Office of Deputy Commissioner
Division of Consumer Services (KFA-2)
Division of Management Services (KFA3)
Division of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (KFA4)
Division of Policy (KFB5)
Division of State, Tribal and Local Assistant (KFB6)
Division of Special Staffs (KFA6)
Office of Automation and Program Operations (KFC)
Division of Federal Systems (KFC5)
Division of State and Tribal Systems (KFC4)
Office Grants Management (KFD)
Office of Mandatory Grants (KFG)

    KF.20 Functions.
    KFA. Office of the Director and Deputy Director/Commissioner. 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 the Deputy Commissioner, the Office of the Automation and 
Program Operations, Office of Audit, Office of Grants Management, and 
Office of Mandatory Grants.
    The Office is responsible for developing regulations, guidance and 
standards for State/Tribes 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 tribal and local officials, and private 
organizations and individuals interested in the CSE program; 
coordinating and planning child support enforcement activities to 
maximize program effectiveness; outreach to the communities of faith 
and service, as well as access/visitation programs and advocacy 
interests and approving all instructions, policies and publications 
issued by OCSE staff. The Office is responsible for Child Support 
Enforcement financial analysis and strategy development; overall grants 
and contracts planning and oversight, internal OCSE compliance 
operations; and the management of large-scale or high profile 
assistance activities involving multiple OCSE areas of responsibility.
    KFB1. Office of Audit develops, plans, schedules and conducts 
periodic audits of CSE programs in accordance with audit standards 
promulgated by the Comptroller General. It is also responsible for 
liaison with other agencies on special law enforcement initiatives. The 
Division, headed by a Director reports directly to the Deputy Director/
Commissioner, and will audit, at least once every three years (or more 
frequently in the case of a State which fails to meet the performance 
standards and the tests of the reliability of program data), the 
reliability of State financial and statistical data reporting systems 
used in calculating the paternity establishment percentage and the 
performance indicators used as the basis for the payment of performance 
based financial incentives to the State. These audits will examine the 
computer systems general and application controls and include in deputy 
testing of the data produced by the system to ensure that it is valid, 
complete and reliable. The Office will also conduct financial audits to 
determine whether federal and other funds made available to carry out 
the CSE programs are being appropriately expended, and properly and 
fully accounted for. These audits will also examine collections and 
disbursements of support payments for proper processing and accounting 
treatment.
    The Office will also provide technical assistance to State and 
tribes in developing their self-assessment capabilities and 
implementing the annual reporting requirements contained in the 
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 
(PRWORA) of 1996.
    In addition, the Office will also conduct other audits and 
examinations of program operations as may be necessary or requested by 
program officials for the purpose of improving the efficiency, 
effectiveness and economy of State, tribal, and local child support 
activities; develops consolidated reports for the Director and Deputy 
Director/Commissioner, OCSE based on findings; provides specifications 
for the development of audit regulations and requirements for audits of 
State and tribal CSE programs;

[[Page 8118]]

and coordinates and maintains effective liaison with the HHS Inspector 
General's Office and with the General Accounting Office.
    The Office operates Project Save Our Children, a law enforcement 
liaison initiative which is a coalition of task forces, which currently 
covers 20 States and the District of Columbia. This initiative 
addresses interstate and tribal cases by: (1) Creating a formal 
partnership between CSE and the criminal justice system; (2) devising 
new ways to analyze and interpret information; and (3) making 
interstate and tribal child support enforcement a priority with the 
criminal justice community. At the heart of the task forces is a case 
screening unit and its information platform through which public and 
private databases are queried in an attempt to gather information 
concerning the whereabouts and assets of the non-custodial parents. 
Project Save Our Children's goal is to increase child support 
collections through the identification, investigation, and, when 
warranted, prosecution of flagrant, delinquent child support offenders. 
Project Save Our Children makes this possible by creating a nationwide, 
comprehensive, coordinated Health and Human Services/Justice Department 
response to unresolved interstate and tribal child support enforcement 
cases.
    KFB. Office of the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner 
reports to the Deputy Director/Commissioner and assists the 
Commissioner in carrying out the responsibilities of OCSE, and provides 
leadership and direction to the Division of Consumer Services, Division 
of Management Services, Division of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 
Division of Policy, Division of Special Staffs, the Division of State, 
Tribal, Local Assistance, and the Office of Automation and Program 
Operations.
    KFA-2. Division of Consumer Services provides direction and 
leadership for a variety of consumer affairs activities in support of 
the nationwide child support enforcement program. It provides advice on 
strategies and approaches to be used to improve public understanding of 
and access to OCSE programs and policies; develops and publishes 
informational materials and disseminates them through the National 
Reference Center and promotes ``best'' child support practices to the 
public through monthly publication of the Child Support Report. The 
Division advises the Deputy Director/Commissioner through the Deputy 
Commissioner of the impact of the child support enforcement program 
upon consumers and provides a focal point for intergovernmental and 
consumer relations and consultation. This Division manages the access/
visitation grants, the fatherhood initiative, and is responsible for 
the outreach to the communities of faith and service. The Division is 
also responsible for national electronic communications activities 
including disseminating information and operation of the OCSE Homepage 
on the internet and insuring that the information is placed thereon in 
a timely and accurate manner.
    KFB2. The Division of Management Services manages the formulation 
and execution of the budgets for OCSE operated programs and for Federal 
administration of the CSE program; serves as the central control point 
for operational and long-range planning of the needs of the OCSE; plans 
for and coordinates the provision of staff development and training; 
provides support for OCSE's personnel administration, including 
staffing, employee and labor relations, performance management, and 
employee recognition; manages procurement planning and provides 
technical assistance regarding procurement; reviews and approves 
formula, entitlement, and block grant actions in conjunction with OCSE 
Offices and Divisions; manages OCSE-controlled space and facilities; 
performs manpower planning and administration; plans for, acquires, 
distributes, and controls OCSE supplies; provides mail and messenger 
services; maintains duplicating, fax, computer and computer peripheral 
equipment; supports and manages automation acquisition within OCSE; 
provides for health and safety; and overseas travel. It is also 
responsible for the day-to-day operational and administrative support 
services for the Office of Mandatory Grants and the Office of Grants 
Management, and other functions for OCSE. In addition, the Division 
reviews and manages clearance of Federal Register Notices and program 
announcements for OCSE, the Office of Family Assistance, the Office of 
Refugee Resettlement, the Office of Community Services, and the Office 
of Research and Evaluation.
    KFA4. Division of Planning, Research and Evaluation is the 
principal advisor to the Deputy Commissioner on improving the 
effectiveness and efficiency of programs designed to make measurable 
improvements in the economic and social well-being of children and 
families.
    The Division provides guidance, analysis, technical assistance, and 
oversight to CSE programs and across programs in ACF on strategic 
planning aimed at measurable results; performance measurement; research 
and evaluation methodologies; demonstration testing and model 
development; statistical, policy and program analysis; synthesis and 
dissemination of research and demonstration findings; and application 
of emerging technologies to improve the effectiveness of programs and 
service delivery. The Division is also responsible for the collection, 
compilation, and analysis, and dissemination of data.
    The Division oversees and manages the section 1115 social research 
programs relating to CSE, including: priority setting and analysis; 
processing waivers for OSCE; managing and coordinating major cross-
cutting, leading-edge studies, collaborating with State and tribes, 
communities, foundations, professional organizations and others to 
promote the development of children, family focused services, parental 
responsibility, employment, and economic independence; and providing 
coordination.
    KFB5. Division of Policy proposes and implements national policy 
for the CSE program and provides policy guidance and interpretations to 
State and tribes in developing and operating their programs according 
to federal law. It develops legislative proposals and regulations to 
implement new legislation, court decisions or directives from higher 
authority and provides comments on pending legislative proposals. The 
Division develops new State and Tribal plan preprint requirements and 
procedures for review and approval of State plans by the OCSE regional 
offices and prepares the justification for State plan disapproval 
actions. In consultation with the Director, Division of Planning, 
Research and Evaluation, negotiates with State and Tribes the five year 
national strategic plan. Coordinates with the Office of the General 
Counsel on pending departmental appeals.
    KFA6. Division of Special Staffs. The Division of Special Staffs 
provides leadership to special high profile, high priority projects 
resulting from new legislation which expand the provision of child 
support services, such as employer outreach and relations, health 
industry enforcement, Hispanic outreach and welfare-to-work. In 
addition, the Division office has responsibility for implementation of 
the United States and tribes Central Authority for International Child 
Support and the new Native American/Tribal Child Support Enforcement 
Program. In coordination with the Division of Policy, the Division

[[Page 8119]]

conducts consultations and outreach to Tribes; reviews Tribal plans and 
works across OCSE Divisions in providing guidance, assistance and 
information to Tribes. The Division also works with the Office of 
Mandatory Grants in the issuance grants to Tries.
    KFB6. Division of State, Tribal, and Local Assistance, in concert 
with regional offices, provides information and assistance on CSE 
operations. It provides national direction and leadership for training 
and technical assistance activities and regional operations to increase 
CSE program effectiveness both at Federal and State/Tribal levels; 
develops guides and resource materials and serves as a clearinghouse 
for specialized program techniques for use by ACF regional offices and 
State and tribes; and ensures the transfer of best practices among 
State/tribes and local CSE enforcement agencies. The Division operates 
a national CSE training center which includes the operation of the 
National Electronic Resource System; provides logistical support for 
both training events and meetings; and monitors contracts with 
organizations affiliated with child support enforcement programs in the 
areas of training and technical assistance. The Division, through the 
Special Initiatives Branch, provides outreach and liaison services to a 
variety of special interest populations including (a) outreach to the 
homeless population, (b) interstate and tribal services, (c) intrastate 
(d) the judiciary, (e) law enforcement agencies, and (f) the military.
    KFC. Office of Automation and Program Operations. The Office is 
headed by an Associate Commissioner who reports to the Deputy Director/
Commissioner through the Deputy Commissioner and provides leadership 
and direction to the Division of State and Tribal Systems and Division 
of Federal Systems.
    KFC5. Division of Federal Systems is responsible for the day-to-day 
operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), the Federal Tax 
Refund Offset Program, Project 1099, the IRS Full Collection Project, 
and the SSN Enumeration Verification System. The Division is also 
responsible for the design, development, implementation and operation 
of the Federal Case Registry (FCR) and the National Directory of New 
Hires (NDNH) within the expanded FPLS. It is responsible for monitoring 
contracts with vendors who provide automated systems support and 
quality assurance to these programs; working with vendors to define 
scope of work to be performed and by whom; negotiating interagency 
agreements; and providing contract oversight. The Division, is 
consultation with the Division of State, Tribal, and Local Assistance, 
also provides technical assistance to State/tribal and local child 
support enforcement agencies. The Division provides guidance and 
expertise to State/Tribes concerning other State, interstate, tribal 
and national locate networks and sources. In addition, the Division 
works with the U.S. Department of State on passport revocation and 
other Federal agencies authorized to have access to NDNH and FCR data. 
The data is being used to: detect overpayments in the Supplemental 
Security Income and Disability programs; determine eligibility in the 
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program; collect defaulted loans and 
grants made through the Department of Education's Student Loan Program; 
and, aid vital welfare reform research.
    KFC4. Division of State and Tribal Systems reviews analyzes, and 
approves/disapproves State and tribal requests for Federal financial 
participation for automated systems development activities, which 
support the Child Support program. It provides assistance to State/
Tribes in developing or modifying automation plans to conform to 
Federal requirements. It monitors approved State and tribal systems 
development activities; certifies State and tribal wide automated 
systems; conducts periodic reviews to assure State and tribal 
compliance with regulatory requirements applicable to automated systems 
supported by federal financial participation. It provides guidance to 
State and tribes on functional requirements for these automated 
information systems. It promotes interstate and tribal transfer of 
existing automated systems and provides assistance and guidance to 
improve ACF's programs through the use of automated systems.
    KFD. Office of Grants Management. The Office of Grants Management 
is headed by a Director who reports to the Deputy Director/Commissioner 
and receives daily operational and administrative support services from 
the Director of Management Services. The Division provides management 
and technical administration for discretionary grants to the Office of 
Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), Office of Community Services (OCS), 
Office of Family Assistance (OFA) and Office of Planning, Research and 
Evaluation (OPRE); reviews, certifies and/or signs all discretionary 
grants; assures that all discretionary grants awarded by OCSE, OCS, OFA 
and OPRE conform with applicable statutes, regulations, and policies; 
computes grantee allocations, prepares discretionary grant awards, 
ensures incorporation of necessary grant terms and conditions, and 
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 OCSE, OCS, OFA, and OPRE discretionary grant 
systems and the Department's grant payment systems; and provides 
technical assistance to regional components on discretionary grant 
operations and technical grants management issues; and performs audit 
resolutions activities for OCSE, OCS, OFA, and OPRE discretionary grant 
programs. On behalf of OCSE, OCS, OFA, and OPRE, coordinates and 
conducts liaison with the Department and other federal agencies on 
discretionary grants.
    KFG. Office of Mandatory Grants. The Office of Mandatory Grants is 
headed by a Director who reports to the Deputy Director/Commissioner 
and receives daily operational administrative support services from the 
Director of Management Services. The Division 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 statues, 
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

[[Page 8120]]

block grants management and administration operational issues and 
activities.

    Dated: January 19, 2001.
Olivia A. Golden,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 01-2464 Filed 1-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M