[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17229-17233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05366]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, 
Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Statement of 
Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, HHS

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has added a 
new office, the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, to 
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families and 
transfers the functions of the Division of Family Violence Prevention 
and Services to this office. Within the Administration on Children, 
Youth and Families (ACYF), it renames the Office of Management Services 
to the Executive Office. Within the Family and Youth Services Bureau 
(FYSB), it renames the Division for Optimal Adolescent Development to 
the Division of Positive Youth Development and renames the Division of 
Evaluation, Data, and Policy to the Division of Data, Performance, and 
Policy. It also creates an Office of Budget in the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.

DATES: This reorganization was approved by the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services on March 1, 2023, and took effect on March 17, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shawndell Dawson, Division of Family 
Violence Prevention and Services, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 
20201, (202) 205-1476.

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), Administration for 
Children and Families (ACF) as follows: Chapter KA, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, as last amended by 85 FR 
52607, March 26, 2020, and Chapter KB, Administration on Children, 
Youth and Families (ACYF), as last amended in 85 FR 15785, March 19, 
2020. The changes are as follows:
    I. Under Chapter KA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children 
and Families, make the following changes:
    A. Delete KA.00 Mission in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KA.00 Mission. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children 
and Families (OAS) provides executive direction, leadership, and 
guidance for all ACF programs. OAS provides national leadership to 
develop and coordinate public and private initiatives for carrying out 
programs that promote permanency placement planning, family stability, 
and self-sufficiency. OAS advises the Secretary on issues affecting 
America's children and families, including Native Americans, refugees, 
survivors of domestic violence, youth experiencing homelessness, 
children and families in the child welfare system, and survivors of 
human trafficking. OAS provides leadership and coordination on human 
services and early childhood

[[Page 17230]]

development issues and conducts emergency preparedness and response 
operations during a nationally declared emergency.
    B. Delete KA.10 Organization in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KA.10 Organization. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Children and Families is headed by the Assistant Secretary for Children 
and Families who reports directly to the Secretary and consists of:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families (KA)
Executive Secretariat Office (KAF)
Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (KAG)
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Inter-Departmental Liaison 
for Early Childhood Development (KAH)
Office on Trafficking in Persons (KAI)
Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (KAJ)
Office of Budget (KAK)

    C. Establish KA.20 Functions, Paragraph F, The Office of Budget:
    F. The Office of Budget manages the formulation and execution of 
the budgets for OAS programs and OAS' portion of the federal 
administration budget, serves as the central control point for 
operational and long range planning, manages procurement planning and 
provides technical assistance regarding procurement, acquires OAS 
supplies, provides oversight and technical assistance on funds planning 
for travel expenditures and travel administration on obligation and 
payment issues, monitors the obligation and expenditure of OAS funds 
through the lifecycle of the appropriations, and provides leadership 
and advice on financial policy issues that cut across all the OAS 
program and funding mechanisms.
    D. Establish KA.20 Functions, Paragraph G, The Office of Family 
Violence Prevention and Services:
    G. The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (KAJ):
    The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) is 
responsible for the overall leadership of family violence, domestic 
violence, and dating violence prevention, intervention, response, and 
awareness programs and services under the purview of ACF. The OFVPS 
serves as an advisor to the Assistant Secretary, ACF, recommending 
policy strategies and interagency collaborations to address the 
coordination of services involving domestic violence survivors and 
their children. Under the leadership of the Assistant Secretary, ACF, 
OFPVS assesses policies and legislation, and develops program 
initiatives for domestic violence and dating violence prevention and 
services. OFVPS recommends budgetary and legislative proposals and 
subject areas for research/evaluation and demonstration activities, and 
it coordinates efforts with and provides expert advice to departmental 
and other federal agencies on issues and programs for survivors of 
domestic violence and their children. The OFVPS promotes public 
awareness about family violence, domestic violence, and dating 
violence. The OFVPS also promotes awareness about the impact of family 
violence, and effective prevention and intervention strategies to 
address the problem. The OFVPS programs provide immediate shelter and 
related assistance to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, 
and family violence and their dependents; provide for research into the 
most effective methods of domestic violence prevention, identification, 
and intervention; and provide training and technical assistance to 
domestic violence and dating violence programs including states, 
territories, tribes, coalitions, culturally specific organizations, 
rural communities, faith-based organizations, local public agencies 
(such as early childhood programs, social service agencies, child 
welfare programs, mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, 
and health care providers), and non-profit organizations. The OFVPS 
provides support for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which 
operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is available in 200 
languages, including services in Spanish, video and/or text chat for 
Deaf and Hard of Hearing survivors, and culturally specific response to 
Native American victims by Native advocates. The OFVPS supports the 
development of services to address the needs of children exposed to 
domestic violence and their abused parents.
    The OFVPS is responsible for developing, updating, and implementing 
program regulations and policies. The OFVPS oversees the receipt and 
review of applications for formula and discretionary grants and grantee 
activities. It also provides guidance, review, support, and assistance 
to states, territories, tribes, coalitions, resource centers, hotlines, 
and sub awardees on HHS policies, regulations, procedures, and systems 
necessary to ensure efficient program operation at the state, 
territorial, tribal, and community levels. In addition, the OFVPS 
coordinates shelter and supportive service programs for survivors and 
potential victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and family 
violence and their dependents. OFVPS also represents ACF and HHS on 
various councils, workgroups, and committees and provides leadership 
and coordination to other ACF and HHS programs and agencies to better 
meet the needs of domestic violence and dating violence survivors.
    II. Under Chapter KB, Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families, delete KB in its entirety and replace with the following:
    KB.00 Mission. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families 
(ACYF) advises the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for 
Children and Families, on matters relating to the sound development of 
children, youth, and families by planning, developing, and implementing 
a broad range of activities that prevent or remediate the effects of 
trauma, abuse, and/or neglect of children and youth and promote child, 
adolescent, and family wellbeing.
    ACYF administers state grant programs under titles IV-B and IV-E of 
the Social Security Act, manages the Adoption Opportunities program and 
other discretionary programs for the development and provision of child 
welfare services, and implements the Child Abuse Prevention and 
Treatment Act (CAPTA). It administers programs under the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act and manages prevention programs that support 
positive adolescent development and wellbeing authorized through Title 
V of the Social Security Act under Section 510 for Sexual Risk 
Avoidance Education and Section 513 for Personal Responsibility 
Education Program.
    In concert with other components of ACF, ACYF develops and 
implements research, demonstration, and evaluation strategies for the 
discretionary funding of activities designed to improve and enrich the 
lives of children and youth and to strengthen families. It administers 
Child Welfare Services training and research and demonstration programs 
authorized by title IV-B of the Social Security Act and oversees 
promising youth development programs.
    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)
Executive Office (KBA1)
Office Of Budget (KBA2)
Children's Bureau (KBD)
Children's Bureau Regional Program Units (KBDDI-X)
Office of Child Abuse and Neglect (KBD1)

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Division of Policy (KBD2)
Division of Program Implementation (KBD3)
Division of Program Innovation (KBD4)
Division of Child Welfare Capacity Building (KBD5)
Division of State Systems (KBD6)
Division of Performance Measurement and Improvement (KBD7)
Family and Youth Services Bureau (KBE)
Division of Positive Youth Development (KBE1)
Division of Data, Performance, and Policy (KBE3)
Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth (KBE4)

    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. The Office of the Commissioner is 
comprised of two offices:
    The Executive Office functions as Executive Secretariat for the 
Office of the Commissioner, including managing correspondence, 
correspondence systems, and electronic mail requests; 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 
ACYF-controlled space and facilities; performs manpower planning and 
administration; plans for, 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 administration, time and attendance, and other administrative 
functions for ACYF.
    The Office of Budget 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, manages 
procurement planning and provides technical assistance regarding 
procurement, acquires ACYF supplies, provides oversight and technical 
assistance on funds planning for travel expenditures and travel 
administration on obligation and payment issues, monitors the 
obligation and expenditure of ACYF funds through the lifecycle of the 
appropriations, and provides leadership and advice on financial policy 
issues that cut across all the ACYF program and funding mechanisms.
    B. The Children's Bureau (CB) is headed by an Associate 
Commissioner who advises the Commissioner, ACYF, on matters related to 
the administration of state and tribal child welfare systems, including 
child abuse and neglect, child protective services, family preservation 
and support, adoption, foster care and independent living, and child 
abuse and neglect prevention. A Deputy Associate Commissioner supports 
the Associate Commissioner and manages the day-to-day operations of the 
CB. CB recommends legislative and budgetary proposals, operational 
planning system objectives and initiatives, and projects and issue 
areas for evaluation, research, and demonstration activities. CB 
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. The Bureau is comprised of eight units:
    The Regional Program Unit is headed by the Director of Regional 
Programs who reports to the Deputy Associate Commissioner, CB, within 
ACYF. The Director of Regional Programs, through subordinate Regional 
Program Managers and their staff, in collaboration with program 
components, is responsible for (1) providing program and technical 
administration of CB formula, entitlement, block, and discretionary 
programs related to child welfare, including child abuse and neglect 
prevention, child protective services, family preservation and support, 
adoption, foster care, and independent living; (2) collaborating with 
the ACF Central Office, states, and grantees on all program matters for 
programs or issues that have significant implications for the programs; 
(3) providing technical assistance to entities responsible for 
administering CB programs to resolve identified problems; (4) ensuring 
that appropriate procedures and practices are adopted; (5) working with 
appropriate state and local 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 Office on Child Abuse and Neglect provides leadership and 
direction on the issues of child maltreatment and the prevention of 
abuse and neglect under 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 of maltreatment. It supports activities to build 
networks of community-based, prevention-focused family resource and 
support programs through the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention 
Grants. It supports improvement in the state systems that 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.
    The Division of Policy provides leadership and direction in policy 
development and interpretation of titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social 
Security Act and the Basic State Grant under CAPTA. 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 other sources.
    The 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 CAPTA. 
It develops program instructions, information memoranda, and annual 
reports related to these programs. It analyzes State Plans and develops 
state profiles and other reports. It is responsible for the Monitoring 
Team, which schedules and coordinates the monitoring of the state title 
IV-E reviews and ensures effective corrective action if necessary. It 
is the focal point for financial issues, including disallowances, 
appeals, and the decisions of the Departmental Appeals Board (DAB).
    The Division of Program Innovation provides leadership and 
direction in program development, innovation, and research. 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.
    The Division of Child Welfare Capacity Building provides leadership

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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 CAPTA. Either directly or through grants or 
contracts, it provides training and technical assistance to assist 
service providers, state and local governments, and tribes. It manages 
discretionary training grants under section 426 of the Social Security 
Act and title IV-E training and directs the operations and activities 
of statutorily mandated clearinghouses. The Division identifies best 
practices for treating vulnerable families and preventing abuse and 
neglect. It participates in the development of funding opportunity 
announcements and manages certain discretionary grant projects.
    The 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 related activities 
that 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, monitors approved 
state system development activities, and conducts periodic reviews to 
ensure 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.
    The Division of Performance Measurement and Improvement provides 
oversight in the collection, analysis, and reporting of state-level 
data reported to CB through mandated data collections; oversees an 
outcomes-oriented review of state child welfare systems; and sets, 
tracks, and reports on performance indicators in response to the 
Government Performance and Results Act and other performance-oriented 
mandates. The Division is comprised of two teams. The Data Analytics 
and Reporting Team collects, analyzes, and disseminates program data 
from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System 
(AFCARS), the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD), and the 
National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems (NCANDS); ensures 
accuracy of data reporting; develops systematic methods of measuring 
the impact and effectiveness of various child welfare programs; and 
performs statistical sampling functions. The Child and Family Services 
Review Team, in partnership with CB's Regional Program Units, carries 
out reviews of child protection, foster care, adoption, family 
preservation, family support, and independent living services provided 
by the states. The Child and Family Services Review Team ensures the 
accuracy and consistency of the review protocol across all states of 
the review process and in subsequent program improvement efforts.
    C. The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is headed by an 
Associate Commissioner who recommends policy direction and programs to 
address issues involving vulnerable, at-risk youth and their families 
to the Commissioner, ACYF. FYSB supports the organizations and 
communities working to prevent and respond to youth homelessness, youth 
at risk of trafficking and sexual exploitation, and promote positive 
adolescent health and development through programs that provide 
shelter, community services, and prevention education for youth, 
adults, and families.
    A Deputy Associate Commissioner supports the Associate Commissioner 
and manages the day-to-day operations of FYSB. The Bureau assesses and 
recommends policies, data and performance measures, and legislation and 
develops program initiatives to support youth who have or are at-risk 
of leaving home due to family conflict or other crisis, youth 
experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness or sexual 
exploitation, and adolescent development and wellbeing. FYSB recommends 
budgetary and legislative proposals, operational planning initiatives, 
and projects and subject areas for research, evaluation, and 
demonstration activities. FYSB coordinates efforts with and provides 
expert advice to departmental and other federal agencies on supporting 
vulnerable youth, including youth who have run away from home due to 
family conflict or other crises, youth experiencing or at risk of 
experiencing homelessness or housing instability; youth at risk of 
trafficking, sexual exploitation, or violent crime victimization; youth 
at risk of unplanned pregnancy or becoming teen parents; and any youth 
in at-risk situations. FYSB represents HHS on various councils, 
workgroups, and committees and provides leadership and coordination to 
other HHS programs and Federal agencies working to address youth 
homelessness, youth at risk of trafficking and sexual exploitation, and 
positive adolescent development and wellbeing. The Bureau is comprised 
of three Divisions:
    The Division of Data, Performance, and Policy (DPP) provides 
leadership and direction for FYSB, informing program and policy 
development and innovation through evaluation strategies and data 
analysis for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness, youth at 
risk of trafficking, adolescent pregnancy prevention, and promotion of 
adolescent health and wellbeing. The Division leads the management of 
the legislatively mandated data information systems and all evaluation 
efforts within FYSB. The Division directs evaluation efforts to include 
study design; instrument development; and rigorous, methodological 
approaches; and conducts analysis of data to inform the policy and 
program priorities of FYSB programs. The Division develops and 
implements FYSB's standard measures for evaluating program performance 
for the improvement of services to vulnerable populations. It oversees 
collection of FYSB's performance standards and performance measurement 
process, evaluation strategies, development of program outcomes, and 
the synthesis of data to inform and support innovation for each 
program. The Division provides leadership and direction in policy 
development and policy analysis of legislation and budget proposals, 
responds to requests for policy clarification, and assesses the impact 
of authorizing legislations on FYSB's programs. The Division provides 
recommendations to the Associate Commissioner and Deputy Associate 
Commissioner on strategic priorities, policy direction, and 
programmatic improvements to address issues impacting vulnerable youth 
and their families and adolescent health and wellbeing. The Division 
also works collaboratively across ACF and with strategic partnerships 
and identifies issue areas for evaluation, research, and demonstration 
initiatives.
    The Division of Positive Youth Development administers an array of 
prevention services to address the wellbeing of adolescents by funding 
projects to states, tribes, and community-based organizations to 
provide education to youth (and their families) on how to prevent teen 
pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including 
HIV/

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AIDS, and skills training to promote healthy relationships and healthy 
life skills. The Division supports the implementation of evidence-
based, age-appropriate, and medically accurate models, including 
intervention strategies that support the successful transition of youth 
through adolescence and into adulthood with a holistic approach to 
teaching the benefits of healthy decision-making, healthy 
relationships, and mental health and wellbeing. The Division provides 
technical support to ensure compliance with programmatic and fiscal 
requirements of programs across all funding streams, as directed by the 
application of federal policy, regulations, and laws. The Division 
researches and develops conceptual models pertaining to adolescent 
sexual health and wellbeing, monitors funded programs, and ensures the 
provision of technical assistance and training through contracts, 
cooperative agreements, and Interagency Agreements. This includes the 
development and management of a social media marketing campaign to 
provide messaging to youth on positive adolescent development and 
wellbeing.
    The Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth administers prevention, 
crisis response, shelter, and supportive services to youth and young 
adults who have run away from home due to family conflict or other 
crisis or are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. The 
Division administers the runaway and homeless youth program that 
incorporates the Basic Center, Street Outreach, Transitional Living, 
and Maternity Group Home programs. The Division also conducts 
development and implementation of policy, guidance, and regulations 
concerning the funding and management of service projects for youth in 
compliance with the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. The Division 
designs, develops, funds, and monitors support activities related to 
RHY programs including, but not limited to, the provision of technical 
assistance, executing a monitoring system, maintaining a requisite data 
collection system, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and 
Technical Assistance Center, the National Clearinghouse on Homeless 
Youth and Families, and the National Runaway Safeline. The Division 
oversees the receipt and review of applications for discretionary 
grants in these program areas and monitors the management of these 
grants through monthly contacts and on-site visits through the ACF 
Regional Offices.
    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. 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.

Xavier Becerra,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-05366 Filed 3-20-23; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P