[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18147-18149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10008]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of
Authority
This Notice amends Part K of the Statement of Organization,
Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
as follows: Chapter KD, The Regional Offices of the Administration for
Children and Families (61 FR 3937), as last amended, February 2, 1996.
This restructure proposes to change its ten-region organizational
structure into a five-region ``hub'' structure as follows: the
Northeast Regional Hub (includes Regions 1, 2 and 3), the Southeast
Regional Hub (Region 4), the Midwest Regional Hub (includes Regions 5
and 7), the West-Central Regional Hub (includes Regions 6 and 8), and
the Pacific-West Regional Hub (includes Regions 9 and 10). Regions 2,
4, 5, 6 and 9 are Hub sites (largest regional offices) and are headed
by a Regional Hub Director. The Director assumes the traditional duties
of the Regional Administrator but, in addition, takes on important
responsibilities encompassing the entire Hub and impacting on the
national level as well. Regions 1, 3, 7, 8 and 10 are headed by a
Regional Administrator. This Notice is to reflect the changes for the
five regional office hub sites.
Chapter KD is amended as follows:
I. Delete KD.00 Mission in its entirety and replace with the
following:
KD.00 Mission. The Regional Offices of the Administration for
Children and Families (ACF) operate in a five regional Hub structure -
the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West-Central and Pacific-West. The
five Hub sites are located in the five ACF Regional Offices with the
largest caseloads and that serve the nation's largest population
centers (New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and San Francisco). Each
of the remaining five regions is part of a Hub (Boston, Philadelphia,
Kansas City, Denver and Seattle). All Regional Offices represent ACF to
state, county, city or town and tribal governments, grantees, and
public and private local organizations in the administration of
programs in the region which assist vulnerable and dependent children
and families achieve independence, stability, and self-reliance. These
programs include: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Head
Start, Child Support Enforcement (CSE), Job Opportunities and Basic
Skills Training (JOBS), Foster Care, Child Welfare, and Adoption
Assistance, Child Care, Runaway and Homeless Youth, Developmental
Disabilities and Repatriation.
The ACF regional offices oversee the programmatic and financial
management and coordination of the ACF programs in the region and
provide guidance and assistance to the various entities responsible for
administering these programs. They monitor the programs to ensure
compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and adherence to
program and fiscal policies and procedures. They contribute to the
development of ACF national policy based on program knowledge and
services in the region. The ACF regional offices review and approve
state and tribal plans and, if warranted, take action to disapprove or
recommend disapproval as appropriate. They issue grant awards directly
for certain programs, and make recommendations to approve and/or
disapprove grant awards for other programs. They advise the Assistant
Secretary for Children and Families of problems and issues that may
have significant regional or national impact. The ACF regional offices
act as liaison with the entities responsible for administering the
programs, other federal agencies, and public and private local
organizations serving children and families. They develop plans to meet
ACF goals and objectives and DHHS and agency initiatives. They
participate in regional activities to inform the public about ACF
programs in coordination with the ACF Office of Public Affairs and the
Office of the Secretary at the regional level. The ACF regional offices
work with states and counties to assist with the achievement of
automated systems. They participate in special reviews relating to
children and families.
II. Sections, ``KD2.10; KD5.10; and KD6.10 Organizations'' are
amended as follows:
Replace ``Office of the Regional Administrator'' with ``Office of
the Regional Hub Director.'' For Regions 4 and 9, KD.10 Organizations,
replace ``Office of the Regional Administrator'' with ``Office of the
Regional Hub Director.''
III. Under Sections KD2.20 Functions; KD5.20 Functions; and KD6.20
[[Page 18148]]
Functions, delete Paragraph A. Replace the sections with the following:
KD2.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Regional Hub Director is
headed by a Director, who reports to the Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families through the Director, Office of Regional
Operations and State Systems. The Office is responsible for the
Administration for Children and Families' key national goals and
priorities. It represents ACF's regional interests, concerns, and
relationships within the Department and among other Federal agencies
and focuses on State agency culture change, more effective
partnerships, and improved customer service. The Office provides
executive leadership and direction to state, county, city, territorial
and tribal governments, as well as public and private local grantees to
ensure effective and efficient program and financial management. It
ensures that these entities conform to federal laws, regulations,
policies and procedures governing the programs, and exercises all
delegated authorities and responsibilities for oversight of the
programs. The Office takes action to approve state plans and submits
its recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Children and
Families concerning state plan disapproval. The Office contributes to
the development of national policy based on regional perspectives for
all ACF programs. It oversees ACF operations and the management of ACF
regional staff; coordinates activities across regional programs; and
assures that goals and objectives are carried out. The Office alerts
the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families to problems and
issues that may have significant regional or national impact. It
represents ACF at the regional level in executive communications within
ACF, with the HHS Regional Director, other HHS operating divisions,
other federal agencies, and public or private local organizations
representing children and families.
Within the Office of the Regional Hub Director, an administrative
staff assists the Regional Hub Director. The staff directs the
development of regional work plans related to the overall ACF strategic
plan; tracks, monitors and reports on regional progress in the
attainment of ACF national goals and objectives; and manages special
and sensitive projects. It serves as the focal point for public affairs
and contacts with the media, public awareness activities, information
dissemination and education campaigns in accordance with the ACF Office
of Public Affairs and in conjunction with the HHS Regional Director;
and assists the Regional Hub Director in the management of cross-
cutting initiatives and activities among the regional components.
KD5.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Regional Hub Director is
headed by a Director, who reports to the Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families through the Director, Office of Regional
Operations and State Systems. The Office is responsible for the
Administration for Children and Families' key national goals and
priorities. It represents ACF's regional interests, concerns, and
relationships within the Department and among other Federal agencies
and focuses on State agency culture change, more effective
partnerships, and improved customer service. The Office provides
executive leadership and direction to state, county, city, and tribal
governments, as well as public and private local grantees to ensure
effective and efficient program and financial management. It ensures
that these entities conform to federal laws, regulations, policies and
procedures governing the programs, and exercises all delegated
authorities and responsibilities for oversight of the programs.
The Office takes action to approve state plans and submits its
recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families
concerning state plan disapproval. The Office contributes to the
development of national policy based on regional perspectives on all
ACF programs. It oversees ACF operations and the management of ACF
regional staff; coordinates activities across regional programs; and
assures that goals and objectives are carried out. The Office alerts
the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families to problems and
issues that may have significant regional or national impact. It
represents ACF at the regional level in executive communications within
ACF, with the HHS Regional Director, other HHS operating divisions,
other federal agencies, and public or private local organizations
representing children and families.
Within the Office of the Regional Hub Director, an administrative
staff assists the Regional Hub Director. The staff directs the
development of regional work plans related to the overall ACF strategic
plan; tracks, monitors and reports on regional progress in the
attainment of ACF national goals and objectives; and manages special
and sensitive projects. It serves as the focal point for public affairs
and contacts with the media, public awareness activities, information
dissemination and education campaigns in accordance with the ACF Office
of Public Affairs and in conjunction with the HHS Regional Director;
and assists the Regional Hub Director in the management of cross-
cutting initiatives and activities among the regional components.
The Office provides day-to-day support for regional administrative
functions, oversees the management and coordination of automated
systems in the region, and provides data management support to all
Regional Office components. Administrative functions include budget
planning and execution, facility management, employee relations, and
human resources development. Data management responsibilities include
the development of automated systems application to support and enhance
program, fiscal, and administrative operation, and the compilation and
analysis of data on demographic and service trends that assist in
monitoring and oversight responsibilities. The Office is responsible
for the effective and efficient management of internal ACF automation
process and for oversight of state systems projects for ACF programs.
In coordination with other Regional Office components, it monitors
state systems projects and is the focal point for technical assistance
to states and grantees on the development and enhancement of automated
systems.
KD6.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Regional Hub Director is
headed by a Director, who reports to the Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families through the Director, Office of Regional
Operations and State Systems. The Office is responsible for the
Administration for Children and Families' key national goals and
priorities. It represents ACF's regional interests, concerns, and
relationships within the Department and among other Federal agencies
and focuses on State agency culture change, more effective
partnerships, and improved customer service. The Office provides
executive leadership and directives to state, county, city, territorial
and tribal governments, as well as public and private local grantees to
ensure effective and efficient program and financial management. It
ensures that these entities conform to federal laws, regulations,
policies and procedures governing the programs, and exercises all
delegated authorities and responsibilities for oversight of the
programs. The Office takes action to approve state plans and submits
recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families
[[Page 18149]]
concerning state plan disapproval. The Office contributes to the
development of national policy based on regional perspectives on all
ACF programs. It oversees ACF operations, the management of ACF
regional staff; coordinates activities across regional programs; and
assures that goals and objectives are met and departmental and agency
initiatives are carried out. The Office alerts the Assistant Secretary
for Children and Families to problems and issues that may have
significant regional or national impact. The Office represents ACF at
the regional level in executive communications within ACF, with the HHS
Regional Director, other HHS operating divisions, other federal
agencies, and public or private local organizations representing
children and families.
Within the Office of the Regional Hub Director, the Program
Coordination and Planning Unit (PCPU), headed by the Executive Officer
and consisting of administrative staff, assists the Regional Hub
Director in providing day-to-day support for regional administrative
functions, including budget, internal systems, employee relations and
human resource development activities. The PCPU develops and implements
the regional planning process. Tracking, monitoring and reporting on
regional progress in the attainment of ACF national goals and
objectives are carried out. The PCPU coordinates public awareness
activities, information dissemination and education campaigns in
accordance with the ACF Office of Public Affairs and in conjunction
with the HHS Regional Director. The unit also assists the Regional Hub
Director in management of cross-cutting initiatives and activities
among the regional components, and ensures effective and efficient
management of internal automation processes.
For Regions 4 and 9, delete paragraph A and replace with the
following:
KD.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Regional Hub Director is
headed by a Director, who reports to the Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families through the Director, Office of Regional
Operations and State Systems. The Office is responsible for the
Administration for Children and Families' key national goals and
priorities. It represents ACF's regional interests, concerns, and
relationships within the Department and among other Federal agencies
and focuses on State agency culture change, more effective
partnerships, and improved customer service. It provides executive
leadership and direction to state, county, city, territorial and tribal
governments, as well as public and private local grantees to ensure
effective and efficient program and financial management. The Office
ensures that these entities conform to federal laws, regulations,
policies and procedures governing the programs, and exercises all
delegated authorities and responsibilities for oversight of the
programs. The Office takes action to approve state plans and submits
recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families
concerning state plan disapproval. The Office contributes to the
development of national policy based on regional perspectives on all
ACF programs. It oversees ACF operations, the management of ACF
regional staff; coordinates activities across regional programs; and
assures that goals and objectives are met and departmental and agency
initiatives are carried out. The Office alerts the Assistant Secretary
for Children and Families to problems and issues that may have
significant regional or national impact. It represents ACF at the
regional level in executive communications within ACF, with the HHS
Regional Director, other HHS operating divisions, other federal
agencies, and public or private local organizations representing
children and families.
Within the Office of the Regional Hub Director, an administrative
staff assists the Regional Hub Director in providing day-to-day support
for regional administrative functions, including budget, internal
systems, employee relations, and human resource development activities.
The Staff develops and implements the regional planning process. It
tracks, monitors and reports on regional progress in the attainment of
ACF national goals and objectives. The Staff coordinates public
awareness activities, information dissemination and education campaigns
in accordance with the ACF Office of Public Affairs and in conjunction
with the HHS Regional Director. It assists the Regional Hub Director in
management of cross-cutting initiatives and activities among the
regional components, and ensures effective and efficient management of
internal automation processes.
IV. Within Chapter KD, replace the term ``Regional Administrator''
with ``Regional Hub Director'' in Regions 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9.
Dated: April 17, 1996.
Mary Jo Bane,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 96-10008 Filed 4-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
