[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6588-6590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00301]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of Refugee Resettlement; 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 Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Based on internal 
evaluation and feedback from external stakeholders related to making 
ORR programs more efficient, responsive, and better organized to meet 
ORR's statutory obligations, this reorganization aims to increase 
efficiencies and better align organizational structures with 
programmatic requirements and to increase the effectiveness of all ORR 
programs. To accomplish those goals, this reorganization realigns ORR's 
four current programmatic divisions to create two dedicated program 
offices, the Refugee Programs and the Unaccompanied Children Programs. 
Within the Unaccompanied Children Programs, it renames the Division of 
Children's Services to the Division of Unaccompanied Children 
Operations and creates two new divisions, the Division of Planning and 
Logistics, and the Division of Unaccompanied Children's Health. It also 
renames the Division of Policy to the Division of Policy and Procedures 
and changes the Budget Team to the Division of Strategic Planning, 
Budget, and Analysis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Carey, Office of Refugee 
Resettlement, 330 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20201, (202) 401-4556.
    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 KR, Office of Refugee Resettlement, as last amended 
by 80 FR 33269-33270, June 11, 2015.
    I. Under Chapter KR, Office of Refugee Resettlement, delete KR.10 
Organization in its entirety and replace with the following:
    KR.10 Organization. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is 
headed by a Director who reports directly to the Assistant Secretary 
for Children and Families. The Office is organized as follows:

Office of the Director (KRA)
Division of Policy and Procedures (KRA1)
Division of Strategic Planning, Budget and Analysis (KRA2)
Refugee Programs (KRB)
Division of Refugee Assistance (KRB1)
Division of Refugee Services (KRB2)
Division of Refugee Health (KRB3)
Unaccompanied Children Programs (KRC)
Division of Unaccompanied Children Operations (KRC1)
Division of Planning and Logistics (KRC2)
Division of Health for Unaccompanied Children (KRC3)

    II. Under Chapter KR, Office of Refugee Resettlement, delete KR.20 
Functions in its entirety and replace with the following:
    KR.20 Function. A. The Office of the Director reports directly to 
the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families and is responsible 
for carrying ORR's mission and providing guidance and general 
supervision to the components of ORR. The Office provides direction in 
the development of program policy and budget and in the formulation of 
salaries and expense budgets. Staff also provide administrative and 
personnel support services.
    The Office of the Director coordinates with the lead refugee and 
entrant program offices of other Federal departments; provides 
leadership in representing refugee and entrant programs, policies and 
administration to a variety of governmental entities and other public 
and private interests; and, acts as the coordinator of the total 
refugee and entrant resettlement effort

[[Page 6589]]

for ACF and the Department. The Office oversees the care and custody of 
unaccompanied alien children, grants specific consent for those who 
wish to invoke the jurisdiction of a state court for a dependency order 
to seek Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status, and makes 
determinations of eligibility for the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors 
(URM) Program. The Office of the Director develops guidance, 
legislative proposals, and routine interpretations of policy. The 
Office of the Director also provides management and administrative 
services for the office, including the coordination of human resources 
activities. Within the Office of the Director, the Chief of Staff 
assists and advises the Director in implementing strategic initiatives 
and management priorities, and oversees communications for the office, 
including responses to media requests, congressional inquiries, and 
stakeholder engagement.
    The Division of Policy and Procedures assesses and evaluates ORR 
programs and their legal authorities and proactively recommends policy 
development, legislative proposals, and operational and management 
actions to comply with statutory parameters as they relate to each of 
the program areas. The Division advises the ORR Director, deputies, 
division directors, and staff on a wide range of significant and 
sensitive policy-related matters and strategies for attaining ORR 
policy objectives including reviewing proposed legislation and 
assisting with responding to Congressional inquiries. The Division 
identifies major emerging legislative and policy issues, assesses 
impacts, develops policy options and strategies, and implements policy 
initiatives, including the drafting of policies, guidance and 
regulations. The Division consults with the ORR operating divisions in 
the creation and clearance of procedures, consistent with established 
regulations, policies and guidance, and implements training on policies 
and procedures for ORR staff. The Division of Policy and Procedures 
develops clearance and informational memoranda, briefing materials and 
summary statements for ORR, ACF, and department leadership on complex 
and sensitive ORR matters. The Division collaborates with the ORR 
operating divisions and regional staff to clarify and enhance existing 
policies and guidance, particularly in areas where the work of two or 
more divisions overlap. The Division of Policy and Procedures serves as 
the ORR point of contact for other ACF and HHS offices related to legal 
and evaluation issues, such as OGC, OLAB, GAO, and OIG. The Division 
represents ORR on interagency working groups and collaborates with both 
government and private sector leaders on ORR policy-related issues and 
developments.
    The Division of Strategic Planning, Budget and Analysis leads ORR 
in the development, tracking, and implementation of strategic goals and 
performs budget, data analysis, and compliance functions for the 
office. The Division prepares annual budget estimates and related 
materials and performs allocation and tracking of funds for all 
programs. The Division performs analysis on the changing needs of the 
populations served by ORR programs, provides leadership to identify 
data needs and sources, and formulates data and reporting requirements. 
The Division also leads the office in the development of strategic 
goals and objectives and ensures that policies and operational and 
management activities are designed to achieve ORR, ACF and department 
goals. The Division develops and maintains standard monitoring 
procedures for the office and ensures the regular monitoring of ORR 
grant funds.
    B. The Refugee Programs are responsible for carrying out programs 
that provide assistance to refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian 
entrants, and certain Amerasians and victims of severe forms of 
trafficking in persons. The Refugee Programs oversee the movement of 
children into the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) program. The 
Refugee Programs consist of the Division of Refugee Assistance, the 
Division of Refugee Services, and the Division of Refugee Health. The 
Refugee Programs collect and maintain data related to the populations 
served. The Deputy Director reports directly to the Director of ORR.
    The Division of Refugee Assistance represents ORR in coordinating 
services and capacity for refugees in a manner that helps refugees 
become employed and economically self-sufficient soon after their 
arrival in the United States. The Division monitors and provides 
technical assistance to the State-administered domestic assistance 
programs and Wilson/Fish projects. The Division works closely with each 
State in designing a resettlement program specific to the needs of 
incoming populations. The Division develops guidance and procedures for 
their implementation; manages special initiatives to increase refugee 
self-sufficiency such as through State funded discretionary grants or 
pilot programs. The Division also assists public and private agencies 
on data reporting and the resolution of reporting problems. The 
Division develops and supports the flow of information on refugee 
profiles and community resources in support of effective placement at 
the State and local level. The Division works closely with the 
Department of State to ensure effective and seamless orientation from 
overseas to local resettlement community. The Division manages the 
effective allocation of formula social services and targeted assistance 
in support of newly arriving populations. The Division tracks all State 
costs related to refugee assistance.
    The Division of Refugee Services manages effective refugee 
resettlement through the programmatic implementation of grants, 
contracts and special initiatives, such as the Match Grant Program. The 
Division oversees and monitors most ORR discretionary grants; 
recommends grantee allocation; coordinates with the grants management 
office to review the financial expenditures under discretionary grant 
programs; provides data in support of apportionment requests; and, 
provides technical assistance on discretionary grants operations. The 
Division coordinates and provides liaison with the Department and other 
Federal agencies on discretionary grant operational issues and other 
activities as specified by the Director or required by Congressional 
mandate. The Division responds to unanticipated refugee and entrant 
arrivals or significant increases in arrivals to communities where 
adequate or appropriate services do not exist through supplemental 
initiatives. The Division works to promote economic independence among 
refugees through social services, educational services, and intensive 
case management and community development initiatives.
    The Division of Refugee Health provides direction for assuring that 
refugees are provided medical assistance and mental health services 
through the State-administered programs and alternative programs. The 
Division ensures the quality of medical screening and initial medical 
treatment of refugees through its administration of grant programs, 
technical assistance, and interagency agreements in support of 
comprehensive medical and mental health services. The Division also 
supports mental health services to victims of torture. The Division 
works closely with State Refugee Health Coordinators in the planning 
and provision of medical and mental health services to meet the 
individual needs of incoming populations. The Division

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tracks all state costs related to refugee medical assistance and 
screening.
    C. The Unaccompanied Children Programs are directly responsible for 
providing services to unaccompanied children who are referred to ORR 
for care pending immigration status, or identified as victims of 
trafficking. The Unaccompanied Children Programs consists of the 
Division of Unaccompanied Children Operations, the Division of Planning 
and Logistics, and the Division of Unaccompanied Children's Health. 
Unaccompanied Children Programs staff ensures that services are 
administered in a manner that supports child welfare standards of care 
and services and complete regular monitoring of service provision. The 
Deputy Director reports directly to the Director of ORR.
    The Division of Operations implements intake and placement 
decisions for all unaccompanied alien children. The Division supports 
specialized care through grants and contracts, and also conducts 
monitoring and inspections of facilities and placement locations in 
which unaccompanied children reside. The Division also maintains 
statistical information and data on each child and any actions 
concerning the child while the child is under ORR's care. The Division 
ensures consideration of the child's best interest in care and custody 
decisions. The Division coordinates all decisions related to sponsor 
reunification, background checks, home assessments, follow-up services, 
medical assessment and treatment, and repatriation. The Division 
administers the pro bono legal services and child advocate program and 
compiles a State-by-State list of professionals or entities qualified 
to provide the children with a guardian and attorney representational 
services. The Division also supports grants for services provided to 
children after their release from ORR care.
    The Division of Planning and Logistics oversees the development of 
a comprehensive annual plan to ensure that Unaccompanied Children 
Programs are able to accommodate the number of referrals of children to 
ORR care. The Division prepares plans for anticipated shelter capacity 
and staffing needs. The Division leads coordination with other federal 
agencies and management of grants and contracts. If ORR requires 
temporary shelters to care for unaccompanied children, the Division 
leads the operational and logistical support for those shelters.
    The Division of Health for Unaccompanied Children oversees the 
provision of health and medical services to unaccompanied children in 
ORR care. The Division reviews and approves orders for complex medical 
procedures and reviews test results for certain medical ailments. The 
Division also ensures reporting of public health information to the 
appropriate public health authorities.
    III. 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.
    IV. Delegation of Authority. Pending further delegation, directives 
or orders by the Director of ORR, 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.
    V. 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 realignment is effective January 19, 2017.

    Date: December 30, 2016.
Sylvia M. Burwell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-00301 Filed 1-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-34-P