[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52607-52608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18678]
[[Page 52607]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, Health and Human
Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of
Authority.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is realigning
the Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response
(OHSEPR), including the U.S. Repatriation Program. OHSEPR will be a
direct report to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for
the ACF. The Division of Emergency Policy and Planning will be
realigned into the following Divisions:
1. Division of Operations;
2. Division of Intelligence;
3. Division of Planning, Training, and Exercises.
Lastly, it changes the reporting relationship from a direct report
to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for External Affairs to a direct
report to the PDAS for ACF.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natalie Grant, Director for OHSEPR,
(202) 205-7843, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice amends Part K of the Statement
of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ACF, as follows: Chapter
KA, Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary as last amended in 80
FR 63555-63558, October 20, 2015; Chapter KW, Office of Human Services
Emergency Preparedness and Response as last amended in 80 FR 63555-
63558, October 20, 2015; and Chapter KW, Office of Human Services
Emergency Preparedness and Response as last amended in 83 FR 40517-
40519, August 15, 2018.
I. Under KW, The Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness
and Response, delete KW.00 Mission in its entirety and replace with:
KW.00 Mission. The Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness
and Response (OHSEPR) promotes resilience of vulnerable individuals,
children, families, and communities impacted by disasters and public
health emergencies. OHSEPR provides disaster human services expertise
to ACF grantees, partners, and stakeholders during preparedness,
response, and recovery operations for emergency and disaster events.
Working closely with ACF Program Offices, OHSEPR coordinates ACF's
planning, policy, and operations for emergency and disaster
preparedness, response, and recovery. OHSEPR supports fulfillment of
disaster human services within the integrated response and recovery
operations of HHS. OHSEPR administers the Disaster Human Services Case
Management (DHSCM) Program and the U.S. Repatriation Program. OHSEPR
manages the ACF Continuity of Operation Plan, which directs how ACF's
mission essential functions (MEFs) are performed during a wide range of
disruptions or emergencies.
II. Under KW, Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and
Response, delete KW.10 Organization in its entirety and replace with:
KW.10 Organization. OHSEPR is headed by a Director, who reports to
the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for ACF, and consists
of:
Office of the Director (KWA)
Division of Operations (KWB)
Division of Intelligence (KWC)
Division of Planning, Training, and Exercises (KWD)
III. Under KW, Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and
Response, delete KW.20 Functions in its entirety and replace with:
KW.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Director is responsible for
the administrative oversight and strategic direction of all OHSEPR
programs, projects, and activities. The Office serves as advisor to the
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families and the PDAS in the areas
of emergency management and disaster human services. The Office of the
Director leads preparedness efforts to ensure that OHSEPR is positioned
to lead disaster human services operations on behalf of ACF and the
Department; coordinates with lead federal and non-federal emergency
management, public health, and human service partners; and oversees
OHSEPR's disaster response and recovery operations. The Deputy Director
reports to the Director and represents the Director in an ``alter-ego''
capacity to carry out the responsibilities and oversight of the OHSEPR.
The Deputy Director oversees the Division of Operations, Division of
Intelligence, and Division of Planning, Training, and Exercise.
The Office of the Director manages budgetary and legal matters
affecting OHSEPR, administers human resources and program evaluation
functions, and ensures alignment of activities by all OHSEPR divisions
with the Director's strategy and applicable laws, policies, doctrines,
and frameworks related to the provision of HHS and ACF's disaster human
services, repatriation, and business continuity operations. The Office
of the Director develops guidance, legislative proposals, and routine
interpretations of policy.
The Office of the Director provides administrative, grant-making,
financial management, budget, and contract officer representative (COR)
direction and support to OHSEPR. Staff responsibilities include, but
are not limited to: (1) Serving as the Executive Secretariat for
OHSEPR, including managing correspondence, correspondence systems, and
public requests; (2) coordinating human resources activities; and (3)
as appropriate, development of internal policies and procedures
relating to these activities. The Office of the Director supports the
implementation of strategic initiatives and oversees communications for
the offices, including responses to media and Congressional inquiries
in coordination through ACF's Office of Communications and Office of
Legislation and Budget.
B. The Division of Operations is responsible for leading ACF's
disaster human services operations in response to emergencies, major
disasters, public health emergencies, and the repatriation of U.S.
citizens and their dependents. Deployable missions may include the
DHSCM Program, the U.S. Repatriation Program missions, and ACF human
services subject matter experts and staffing assets for incident
planning, response, and recovery. This Division works closely with
emergency management, public health, and human service federal and non-
federal partners.
The DHSCM Program supports states, tribes, and territories in
establishing the capacity to coordinate and provide disaster case
management services. This Division maintains the capability to deploy
DHSCM teams upon activation by the Director. The Division administers
an electronic case record management system to provide DHSCM services
in accordance with data management laws and regulations.
The U.S. Repatriation Program provides temporary assistance to U.S.
citizens and their dependents returning to the United States by the
Department of State as authorized under Section 1113 of the Social
Security Act and Public Law 86-571, 24 U.S.C. 321-329, and other
applicable regulations and
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executive orders. Temporary assistance includes transportation,
shelter, medical care, and other goods and services. This Division
works closely with states, the Department of State, and other federal
and non-federal partners to execute mission operations and provide
support during incidents.
This Division manages capabilities for other operations, including
deployment and management of requested human services subject matter
experts and response and recovery staffing assets; coordinates ACF
support for federal emergency missions; and liaises with federal
interagency and other partners in response and recovery.
C. The Division of Intelligence is responsible for maintaining
situational awareness of developing and no-notice incidents, monitoring
conditions that may prompt the repatriation of U.S. citizens back to
the United States, coordinating information management needs of
disaster human services response and recovery operations, and
conducting threat assessments in response to emergencies, major
disasters, public health emergencies in order to identify impacts to
ACF grantees, human services providers, and vulnerable communities.
D. The Division of Planning, Training, and Exercises is responsible
for administering OHSEPR's planning activities to support readiness of
operations. This Division carries out ``steady state'' activities to
ensure readiness of deployable and non-deployable assets and programs,
including the development of plans, guides, procedures, training,
exercises, and staffing assets. This Division ensures human service
impacts from disasters affecting ACF programs and human services
providers are addressed in HHS-wide and government-wide emergency
planning and policymaking. This Division works closely with ACF
programs, grantees and stakeholders, HHS operating divisions, federal
human service programs, and state and local human service programs.
The Division is responsible for coordinating the development and
currency of ACF Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) as required by
the Presidential Policy Directive 40 (PPD-40), National Continuity
Policy, and as directed by the Administrator of FEMA. This Division
ensures the COOP meets established continuity program and planning
requirements for executive departments and agencies, and contains
defined elements outlined in established frameworks, requirements, and
processes.
IV. Under Chapter KA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families, delete KA.20 Functions, Paragraph A in its
entirety and replace with the following:
KA.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families is responsible to the Secretary for carrying out
ACF's mission and provides executive supervision of the major
components of ACF. These responsibilities include providing executive
leadership and direction to plan and coordinate ACF program activities
to ensure their effectiveness; approving instructions, policies,
publications, and grant awards issued by ACF; and representing ACF in
relationships with governmental and non-governmental organizations. The
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary serves as an alter ego to the
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families on program matters and
acts in the absence of the Assistant Secretary for Children and
Families. The Chief of Staff advises the Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families and provides executive leadership and direction
to the operations of ACF. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for External
Affairs provides executive leadership and direction to the Office of
Regional Operations. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood
Development serves as a key liaison and representative to the
Department for early childhood development on behalf of the Assistant
Secretary, ACF, and to other agencies across the government on behalf
of the Department. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy has
responsibility for cross-program coordination of ACF initiatives,
including efforts to promote interoperability and program integration.
V. 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.
VI. Delegation of Authority. All delegations and re-delegations of
authority made to officials and employees of affected organizational
components will continue in them or their successors pending further
re-delegations, provided they are consistent with this reorganization.
VII. 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: August 20, 2020.
Linda Hitt,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-18678 Filed 8-25-20; 8:45 am]
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