[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30215-30218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14058]


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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), 
Chapter KB, the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), 
as last amended on August 27, 1991 [56 FR 42332], December 8, 1997 [62 
FR 64592] and October 6, 1999 [63 FR 58742] is being reorganized to 
move the Office of State Systems from the Office of the Commissioner 
and place it in the Children's Bureau as a new Division and to 
establish a third Division within the Head Start Bureau. In addition, 
this

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notice revises the description of the research and evaluation 
activities within the Office of the Commissioner and the functions of 
the Divisions within the Head Start Bureau and makes other minor 
editorial changes.
    1. Chapter KB, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families is 
amended as follows:
    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)
Head Start Bureau (KBC)
Program Operations Division (KBC1)
Program Support Division (KBC2)
Program Management Division (KBC3)
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)
Division of State Systems (KBD6)
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 provide scientific consultation, coordination, 
direction, and support for research activities across the four Bureaus 
within ACYF. Research staff also partner with other Federal agencies 
and the broader research community to conduct program evaluations, 
develop new knowledge relevant to programs and policies implemented by 
ACYF, and build research capacity within the field. Additional staff 
perform special projects for the Office of the Commissioner. In 
addition to the Immediate Office, the Office of the Commissioner 
contains two 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 ACYRF, 
including managing correspondence, correspondance systems, and 
electronic mail requests; reviews and manages clearance for program 
announcements for ACYF, the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), 
and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD); 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; 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 reviews and approves 
formula and entitlement programs for ACYF's bureaus 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 grantees' 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; 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, ADD, and 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 grantees' 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.
    C. Delete KB.20 Function, Paragraph C in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    C. The Head Start Bureau serves as the principal advisory unit to 
the Commissioner on issues regarding the Head Start program (including 
Early Head Start). It develops legislative and budgetary proposals; 
identifies areas for research, demonstration and developmental 
activities; presents operational planning objectives and initiatives 
relating to Head Start to the Office of the Commissioner; and oversees 
the progress of approved activities. It provides leadership and 
coordination for the activities of the Head Start program in 
headquarters and the regional offices. The Bureau represents Head Start 
in inter-agency activities with other federal and non-federal 
organizations.
    1. Program Operations Division manages the American Indian and 
Alaska Natives and migrant and seasonal farmworkers Head Start 
programs; reviews applications for programs serving American Indian and 
Alaska Natives children and children of migratory and seasonal 
farmworkers;

[[Page 30217]]

monitors and assesses the programs and assures provision of training 
and technical assistance to all Head Start programs funded for the 
children of American Indian and Alaska Natives and migrants and 
seasonal farmworkers; analyzes and ensures consideration of the needs 
of American Indian and Alaska Natives and migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers' children; and coordinates with other agencies and 
organizations serving American Indian and Alaska Natives and migrant 
and seasonal farmworkers' children.
    2. Program Support Division provides technical expertise in the 
areas of Head Start education birth to age five, health (medical, 
dental, mental health and nutrition), family and community 
partnerships, parent involvement, and disabilities services for Head 
Start program staff. It recommends and establishes policy in these 
areas; recommends strategies for achieving quality services; and 
develops guidance, and other policy materials aimed at improving 
grantee performance.
    The Division develops areas for research and demonstration 
activities to improve the quality and levels of services provided to 
Head Start children. The Division also manages discretionary projects 
and develops training and technical assistance strategies to improve 
Head Start programs' performance in specific component areas.
    3. Program Management Division develops and coordinates program and 
administrative management regulations and policy for the Head Start 
program, provides guidance to the regional offices in carrying out 
these policies and monitors their implementation; and designs and 
oversees a national system for program monitoring and quality 
improvement. The Division develops and manages discretionary projects 
that are designed to investigate and improve the operation and 
management of the Head Start program; plans and manages training and 
technical assistance (T & TA) activities in Head Start; and manages 
national data collection and analysis for the Head Start program.
    D. Delete KB.20 Function, Paragraph D in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    D. The Children's Bureau is headed by an Associate Commissioner who 
advises the Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families, on matters related to child welfare, including child abuse 
and neglect, child protective services, family preservation and 
support, adoption, foster care and independent living. It recommends 
legislative and budgetary proposals, operational planning system 
objectives and initiatives, and projects and issue areas for 
evaluation, research and demonstration activities. It represents ACYF 
in initiating and implementing interagency activities and projects 
affecting children and families, and provides leadership and 
coordination for the programs, activities, and subordinate components 
of the Bureau.
    1. Office on Child Abuse and Neglect provides leadership and 
direction on the issues of child maltreatment and the prevention of 
abuse and neglect under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 
(CAPTA). It is the focal point for interagency collaborative efforts, 
national conferences and special initiatives related to child abuse and 
neglect, and for coordinating activities related to the prevention of 
abuse and neglect and the protection of children at-risk. It supports 
activities to build networks of community-based, prevention-focused 
family resource and support programs through the Community-Based Family 
Resource and Support Program. It supports improvement in the systems 
which handle child abuse and neglect cases, particularly child sexual 
abuse and exploitation and maltreatment related fatalities, and 
improvement in the investigation and prosecution of these cases through 
the Children's Justice Act.
    2. Division of Policy provides leadership and direction in policy 
development and interpretation under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social 
Security Act, and the Basic State Grant under the Child Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment Act. It writes regulations and interprets 
policy for the Bureau's formula and entitlement grant programs, and 
responds to requests for policy clarification from ACF Regional Offices 
and a variety of other sources.
    3. Division of Program Implementation provides leadership and 
direction in the operation and review of programs under titles IV-B and 
IV-E of the Social Security Act, and the Basic State Grant under the 
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. It develops program 
instructions, information memoranda, and annual reports. It analyzes 
State Plans and develops State profiles and other reports; participates 
in monitoring and reviewing State information systems to ensure the 
accuracy and relevancy of the data. It is responsible for the 
Monitoring Team, which schedules and coordinates the monitoring of 
State reviews and ensures effective corrective action if necessary. It 
works with appropriate other agencies and organizations on the 
implementation and oversight of relevant sections of the Indian Child 
Welfare Act. It is the focal point for financial issues, including 
disallowances, appeals, and the decisions of the Departmental Appeals 
Board (DAB). It responds to client and constituent correspondence 
received electronically and from a variety of sources.
    4. Division of Data, Research and Innovation provides leadership 
and direction in program development, innovation, research and in the 
management of the Bureau's information systems under titles IV-B and 
IV-E of the Social Security Act, and under the Child Abuse Prevention 
and Treatment Act. It defines critical issues for investigation and 
makes recommendations regarding subject areas for research, 
demonstration and evaluation. It administers the Bureau's discretionary 
grant programs, and awards project grants to State and local agencies 
and organizations nationwide. It provides direction to the Crisis 
Nurseries and Abandoned Infants Resource Centers. It is responsible for 
the Data and Technology Team which analyzes and disseminates program 
data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System 
(AFCARS), and the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System 
(NCANDS); develops systematic methods of measuring the impact and 
effectiveness of various child welfare programs; performs statistical 
sampling functions; provides comprehensive guidance to States, local 
agencies and others on data collection issues, and performance and 
outcome measures; and is the focal point for technology development 
within the Bureau.
    5. Division of Child Welfare Capacity Building provides leadership 
and direction in the areas of training, technical assistance and 
information dissemination under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social 
Security Act, and under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. 
Either directly or through the Resource Centers, it provides training 
and technical assistance to assist service providers, State and local 
governments and tribes, and strengthen headquarters and regional office 
staff.
    It manages section 426 discretionary training grants and title IV-E 
training. It directs the operations and activities of the National 
Center on Child Abuse and Neglect Information Clearinghouse and the 
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse. It identifies best 
practices for treating troubled families and preventing abuse and 
neglect. It participates in the development of grant announcements, and 
manages certain discretionary grant projects. It develops

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and issues a periodic newsletter, and is the focal point for conference 
and meeting planning activities for the Bureau.
    6. Division of State Systems (DSS) reviews, assesses, and inspects 
the planning, design and operation of State management information 
systems and approves advanced planning documents for automated data 
systems. The Division provides leadership for the 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 Division reviews, 
analyzes, and approves/disapproves State requests for federal financial 
participation for automated systems development and activities which 
support child welfare programs, including foster care and adoption. It 
provides assistance to States in developing or modifying automation 
plans to conform to federal requirements. It monitors approved State 
system development activities and 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 
ACYF's programs through the use of automated systems.

    Dated: May 30, 2001.
James A. Harrell,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 01-14058 Filed 6-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M