06-3123. Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority

Part C (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-76, dated October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, as amended most recently at 71 FR 6777, dated February 9, 2006) is amended to reflect the reorganization of the Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, within the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

Section C-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as follows:

After the mission statement for the Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (CUBB), insert the following:

Office of the Director (CUBB1). (1) Manages, directs, and coordinates the research agenda and activities of the division; (2) provides leadership and guidance on strategic planning, policy, program and project priority planning and setting, program management, and operations; (3) establishes division goals, objectives, and priorities; (4) monitors progress in implementation of projects and achievement of objectives; (5) plans, allocates, and monitors resources; (6) provides management, administrative, and support services, and coordinates with appropriate NCBDDD offices on program and administrative matters; (7) provides liaison with other CDC organizations, other governmental agencies, international organizations, and other outside groups; (8) provides support for internal scientific advisory groups; (9) provides scientific leadership and guidance to the division to assure highest scientific quality and professional standards; and (10) provides coordinative support for CDC's efforts to reduce adverse consequences from birth defects, developmental disabilities, and pediatric genetic conditions.

Birth Defects Branch (CUBBB). (1) Designs and conducts epidemiologic and genetic research to identify causes and risk factors of birth defects; (2) conducts evaluates interventions to improve infant and child health by preventing or reducing the adverse consequences of birth defects; (3) designs and conducts surveillance of selected birth defects to identify rates, trends, and patterns of occurrence, and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention programs; (4) disseminates findings of studies to the scientific and public health communities, and to the general public; (5) provides technical assistance to state and local agencies on surveillance of birth defects, epidemiologic research, prevention program design and evaluation, and prevention effectiveness research; (6) funds and coordinates grant and cooperative agreement programs and other extramural activities to improve the knowledge base for the prevention of birth defects through surveillance, epidemiologic research, and applies research of preventive interventions; (7) coordinates activities with other CDC functional units, HHS, other federal agencies,and appropriate private organizations regarding research and prevention programs for birth defects; (8) works with international organizations in developing strategies for the prevention of birth defects; and (9) disseminates findings of research through direct contact with health authorities, publication and distribution of special reports, publication in scientific and technical journals, conference presentations, and other appropriate means.

Prevention Research Branch (CUBBC). (1) Modifies the impact of prenatal exposures leading to adverse physical and developmental impairments in infants, children, and adults including integrating successful prevention programs into social and medical environments, and evaluating innovative, effective, and strategic health promotion programs; (2) develops, implements, evaluates, and disseminates education and communication interventions that lead to the prevention of birth defects and developmental disabilities; (3) designs and conducts surveillance of preventable birth defects and developmental disabilities to identify rates, trends, and patterns of occurrence, and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention programs; (4) disseminates findings of epidemiologic studies to the scientific and public health communities, and to the general public; (5) conducts prevention effectiveness research to evaluate interventions strategies for the prevention of birth defects and developmental disabilities; (6) identifies and monitors major preconception, prenatal and perinatal risks, and protective factors for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and other prenatal alcohol-attributable conditions; (7) provides technical assistance to state and local agencies on surveillance, epidemiologic research, prevention program design and evaluation, and prevention effectiveness research; (8) funds and coordinates grant and cooperative agreement programs and other extramural activities to improve the knowledge base for the prevention of birth defects and developmental disabilities through surveillance, epidemiologic research, and applies research of preventive interventions; (9) coordinates activities with other CDC functional units, HHS, other federal agencies and appropriate private organizations regarding research and prevention programs for birth defects and developmental disabilities; (10) works with international organizations in developing strategies for the prevention of birth defects and developmental disabilities; and (11) disseminates finding of research through direct contact with health authorities, publication and distribution of special reports, publication in scientific and technical journals, conference presentations, and other appropriate means.

Developmental Disabilities Branch (CUBBD). (1) Designs and conducts surveillance of developmental disabilities to identify rates, trends, and patterns of occurrence, and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention programs; (2) conducts epidemiologic studies of developmental disabilities to identify causes and risk factors for these conditions; (3) disseminates findings of epidemiologic studies to the scientific and public health communities and to the general public; (4) conducts prevention effectiveness research to evaluate interventions strategies for the prevention of developmental disabilities; (5) conducts epidemiologic studies to identify and describe specific conditions and long-term outcomes of developmental disabilities; (6) provides technical assistance to state and local agencies on surveillance of developmental disabilities, epidemiologic research, prevention program design and evaluation, and prevention effectiveness research; (7) funds and coordinates grant and cooperative agreement programs and other extramural activities to improve the knowledge base for the prevention of developmental disabilities through surveillance, epidemiologic research, and applies research of preventive interventions; (8) coordinates activities with other CDC functional units, HHS, other Federal agencies and appropriate private organizations regarding research and prevention programs for developmental disabilities; (9) collaborates with international organizations in developing strategies for the prevention of developmental disabilities; (10) disseminates findings of research through direct contact with health authorities, publication and distribution of special reports, publication in scientific and technical journals, conference presentations, and other appropriate means; and (11) provides training in the epidemiology of developmental disabilities to professionals throughout the United States and abroad.

Dated: March 22, 2006.

William H. Gimson,

Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).