[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81280-81282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32462]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of Head Start; Statement of Organization, Functions, and 
Delegations of Authority

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has 
reorganized the Office of Head Start (OHS). This reorganization creates 
the Grants and Contracts Division and the State Initiatives Division. 
It renames the Educational Development and Partnership Division, 
titling it the Education and Comprehensive Services Division. It also 
renames the Immediate Office of Head Start, the Office of the Director. 
Additionally, it renames the Policy and Budget Division, the Policy and 
Planning Division.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvette Sanchez-Fuentes, Office of the 
Director, Office of Head Start, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20024, 202-205-8573.
    This notice amends Part K of the Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) as 
follows: Chapter KU, Office of Head Start (OHS), as last amended 71 FR 
59117-59123, October 6, 2006.
    I. Under Chapter, KU, Office of Head Start, delete KU in its 
entirety and replace with the following:
    KU.00 MISSION. The Office of Head Start (OHS) advises the Assistant 
Secretary for Children and Families on issues regarding the Head Start 
program (including Early Head Start). OHS develops legislative and 
budgetary proposals; identifies areas for research, demonstration and 
developmental activities; presents operational planning objectives and 
initiatives relating to Head Start and Early Head Start to the 
Assistant Secretary; and oversees the progress of approved activities. 
It provides leadership and coordination for the activities of the Head 
Start program in the ACF Central Office including the Head Start 
Regional Program Units. OHS represents Head Start in inter-agency 
activities with other Federal and non-Federal organizations.
    KU.10 ORGANIZATION. OHS is headed by a director who reports

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directly to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. OHS is 
organized as follows:

Office of the Director (KUA)
Program Operations Division (KUB)
Head Start Regional Program Units (KUBDI-XII)
Education and Comprehensive Services Division (KUC)
Quality Assurance Division (KUE)
Policy and Planning Division (KUF)
Grants and Contracts Division (KUG)
State Initiatives Division (KUH)
    KU.20 FUNCTIONS. A. Office of the Director (KUA): The Office of the 
Director (OD) serves as the principal advisor to the Assistant 
Secretary for Children and Families, the Secretary, and other officials 
of the Department on the administration of discretionary grant programs 
providing Head Start Services. The Director provides the direction for 
OHS based on ACF's and HHS' goals and objectives.
    The Deputy Director reports to and assists the Director in carrying 
out the responsibilities of OHS and performs the duties of the Director 
when absent. The Deputy Director supervises all six Division Directors 
in addition to the Budget, Administrative, and Information Systems 
Teams. The divisions are as follows: Program Operations Division, 
Education and Comprehensive Services Division, Quality Assurance 
Division, Policy and Planning Division, Grants and Contracts Division, 
and State Initiatives Division.
    The Administrative Team provides support to OHS, including: (a) 
Serving as the focal point for operational and long-range planning; (b) 
functioning as Executive Secretariat for OHS, including managing 
correspondence, correspondence systems, and electronic mail requests; 
(c) providing management and administrative services and advice, by 
coordinating human resources activities, and (d) as appropriate, 
developing policy and procedures relating to these activities.
    The Budget Team (a) Provides leadership in the development of the 
budget while ensuring consistency with ACF's and the Department's 
vision and goals, (b) is responsible for budget development and 
execution, and (c) serves as the primary contact for ACF on all budget 
development and execution activities related to Head Start. The 
Information Systems Team (IST) provides support to OHS in providing 
centralized information systems policy, procedures, standards, and 
guidelines. IST also provides support through: (a) The oversight of 
information resources management (IRM) systems, including the Early 
Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center and Head Start Enterprise 
System; (b) directing and coordinating OHS' Privacy Act 
responsibilities; (c) directing and maintaining OHS electronic records 
and forms management programs; (d) developing long-range IRM plans; (e) 
developing policies, procurement plans, and budgets for OHS information 
systems; and (f) serving as the information services liaison to ACF and 
other agencies to coordinate e-government strategies and policies.
    B. Program Operations Division (KUB): The Program Operations 
Division (POD) advises the OHS Director on all strategic and 
operational activities related to implementation of the agency's 
programs in the 12 regions. POD is responsible for the Head Start 
regional programs administered by the Head Start Regional Program Units 
which include Region XI, the American Indian and Alaska Native Head 
Start, and Region XII, the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start.

    --Head Start Regional Program Units (KUBDI-XII): The Head Start 
Regional Program Units are each headed by a Regional Program Manager 
(RPM) who reports to the Director of the Program Operations Division. 
The RPM, through subordinate regional staff, in collaboration with 
program components, is responsible for: (1) Providing program and 
technical administration of ACF discretionary programs related OHS; (2) 
collaborating with OHS States Collaboration Projects on all significant 
policy matters; (3) providing technical assistance to entities 
responsible for administering OHS programs to resolve identified 
problems; (4) ensuring that appropriate procedures and practices are 
adopted; (5) working with appropriate State, local, and tribal 
officials to develop and implement outcome-based performance measures; 
and (6) monitoring the programs to ensure their efficiency and 
effectiveness, and ensuring that these entities conform to Federal 
laws, regulations, policies, and procedures governing the programs. The 
Head Start Regional Program Unit serves agencies that provide services 
to the children and families throughout the United States. The Regional 
Program Unit (a) guides the day-to-day management of Head Start 
programs in its jurisdictions; (b) provides technical assistance, 
resources, and information to the various entities responsible for 
administering these programs; (c) designates and provides oversight for 
interim grantees; and (d) represents Head Start to state, county, city, 
and Tribal governments; grantees; and public and private organizations. 
Regions I through X are located in the ACF geographical regions. Region 
XI, American Indian and Alaskan Native Head Start, serves agencies that 
provide services to the children and families of American Indian and 
Alaskan Natives. Migrant and Seasonal Head Start is represented by 
Region XII and serves agencies that provide services to the children 
and families of migrant and seasonal workers. Regions XI and XII are 
located in the OHS central office.
    C. Education and Comprehensive Services Division (KUC): The 
Education and Comprehensive Services Division (ECSD) develops and 
coordinates the content and direction of Head Start program components 
and provides leadership to improve classroom practice, family 
engagement and involvement, health and disabilities services and 
cultural and linguistic responsiveness. The ECSD (1) recommends and 
establishes policy in the content areas; (2) recommends strategies for 
achieving quality services; (3) develops regulation, guidance, and 
other policy materials aimed at improving grantee performance in the 
content areas; (4) develops areas for research and demonstration 
activities to improve the quality and levels of services provided to 
Head Start children; (5) manages discretionary projects; and (6) 
develops training and technical assistance strategies to improve Head 
Start programs' performance in specific component areas which include 
integrated content; health, nutrition, dental, and mental health; 
parent, family, and community engagement; and quality teaching and 
learning.
    D. Quality Assurance Division (KUE): The Quality Assurance Division 
(QAD) (1) oversees all major planning and implementation activities to 
determine Head Start and Early Head Start programs' compliance with all 
applicable requirements and regulations; (2) conducts data analyses on 
monitoring outcomes to inform training and technical assistance efforts 
and policy and guidance development; (3) serves as the liaison to the 
Office of Inspector General (OIG) for targeted OIG's audits; (4) 
oversees special agency initiatives such as the erroneous payment 
study; and (5) manages the OHS Complaint Line.
    E. Policy and Planning Division (KUF): The Policy and Planning 
Division (PPD) provides support and guidance in all matters related to 
defining and setting policy for the OHS that will affect local Head 
Start programs and the early childhood community at-large. The Division 
will strengthen guidance and vision to the

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early childhood community, formulate the OHS strategic plans and long-
term goals, provide guidance and support with budget planning, oversee 
development of regulations and other policy issuances, and serve as 
liaison with ACF and HHS legislative offices on all Congressional 
matters relating to Head Start.
    F. Grants and Contracts Division (KUG): The Grants and Contracts 
Division (GCD) (1) Oversees matters related to competitive funding 
opportunities; (2) manages competition, paneling, and selection of 
national contracts and Head Start and Early Head Start replacement 
grantees; (3) provides ongoing fiscal oversight of national contracts; 
(4) serves as the lead for the OHS Program Management and Fiscal 
Operations Center; and (5) serves as the liaison to the Office of 
Administration, Divisions of Grants Management and Division of Grants 
Policy.
    G. State Initiatives Division (KUH): The State Initiatives Division 
(SID) leads and consolidates collaboration efforts to new and expanding 
Head Start programs. The Division will promote collaborations with 
state pre-k programs, local child care providers and other national and 
state early childhood efforts to ensure the sustainability of strong 
collaborations. The Division serves as the locus for ensuring that 
mandates in the Head Start Act regarding collaboration are implemented 
as well as coordination with the U.S. Department of Education and state 
early childhood entities. The Division will focus on State Advisory 
Councils, Centers of Excellence, State Collaboration Offices, and the 
Training and Technical Assistance System.
    II. Continuation of Policy. Except as inconsistent with this 
reorganization, all statements of policy and interpretations with 
respect to organizational components affected by this notice within 
ACF, heretofore issued and in effect on this date of this 
reorganization are continued in full force and effect.
    III. Delegation of Authority. All delegations and redelegations of 
authority made to officials and employees of affected organizational 
components will continue in them or their successors pending further 
redelegations, provided they are consistent with this reorganization.
    IV. Funds, Personnel, and Equipment. Transfer of organizations and 
functions affected by this reorganization shall be accompanied in each 
instance by direct and support funds, positions, personnel, records, 
equipment, supplies, and other resources.
    This reorganization will be effective upon date of signature.

    Dated: December 16, 2010.
David A. Hansell,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 2010-32462 Filed 12-23-10; 8:45 am]
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