[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49243-49244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24989]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Regional Offices of the 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 (62 FR 31610), as last amended, June 10, 1997.
This Notice reflects the realignment of functions in Region 5. This
Chapter is amended as follows:
After the end of KD4.20 Functions (62 FR 15897, 04/03/97),
Paragraph D, and before KD6.10 Organization (60 FR 27315, 05/23/95),
insert the following:
KD5.10 Organization. The Administration for Children and Families,
Region 5, is organized as follows: Office of the Regional Hub Director
(KD5A), Office of Self-Sufficiency Programs (KD5C), Office of Community
Programs (KD5D),
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. In addition, the Office of the Regional Hub Director has a
Deputy Regional Administrator. 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
[[Page 49244]]
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.
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. Staff performs an
independent grants management function to support the grants processing
in the office.
B. The Office of Self-Sufficiency Programs is headed by an
Assistant Regional Administrator who reports to the Regional Hub
Director and consists of Child Support Enforcement Branch; Child
Welfare Branch; and Family Independence/Child Care Branch.
The Office is responsible for providing centralized program,
financial management and technical administration of certain ACF
formula, entitlement, discretionary and block grant programs, such as
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Child Support Enforcement,
Child Care and Development Fund, Child Welfare Services, Family
Preservation and Support, Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, and
Child Abuse and Neglect 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.
In that regard the Office provides policy guidance to states to
assure consistent and uniform adherence to federal requirements
governing formula and entitlement programs. The Office reviews cost
estimates and reports from ACF entitlement and formula grant programs,
and recommends funding levels.
A Financial/Grants Management Officer is located in each Branch of
the Office of Self-Sufficiency Programs to provide expertise in
business and other non-programmatic areas of grants administration and
to help ensure that grantees fulfill requirements of law, regulations
and administrative policies.
The Office establishes regional financial management priorities;
reviews cost allocation plans, and makes recommendations to the
Regional Hub Director to approve, defer or disallow claims for federal
financial participation in ACF formula and entitlement programs. As
applicable, it makes recommendations on the clearance and closure of
audits of state and grantee programs, paying particular attention to
deficiencies that decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of ACF
programs and taking steps to resolve such deficiencies.
The Office represents the Regional Hub Director in dealing with ACF
central office, states and grantees on all program and financial
management policy matters for programs under its jurisdiction. It
alerts the Regional Hub Director to problems or issues that have
significant implications for the programs.
C. The Office of Community Programs is headed by an Assistant
Regional Administrator who reports to the Regional Hub Director and
consists of three Head Start and Youth Branches.
The Office is responsible for providing centralized program,
financial management and technical administration of certain ACF
discretionary programs, such as Head Start and Runaway and Homeless
Youth, as well as the Developmental Disabilities program.
A Financial/Grants Management Officer is located in each Branch of
the Office of Community Programs to provide expertise in business and
other non-programmatic areas of grants administration and to help
ensure that grantees fulfill requirements of law, regulations and
administrative policies.
The Office establishes regional financial management priorities;
reviews cost allocation plans, and makes recommendations to the
Regional Hub Director to approve or disallow costs under ACF
discretionary grant programs. The Office issues certain discretionary
grant awards based on a review of project objectives, budget
projections and proposed funding levels. As applicable, it makes
recommendations on the clearance and closure of audits of state and
grantee programs, paying particular attention to deficiencies that
decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of ACF programs and taking
steps to resolve such deficiencies.
The Office represents the Regional Hub Director in dealing with ACF
central office, states and grantees on all program and financial
management policy matters for programs under its jurisdiction. It
alerts the Regional Hub Director to problems or issues that have
significant implications for the programs.
Dated: September 12, 1997.
Olivia A. Golden,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 97-24989 Filed 9-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
