[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]



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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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