[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3614-3616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01125]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of Refugee Resettlement; Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority.

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority
    The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has reorganized 
the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). This notice announces a 
realignment of functions to create a Division of Policy within the 
Office of the Director in ORR. This realignment of functions within ORR 
serves to coordinate and centralize the policy function within ORR to 
provide for policy uniformity and consistency, allow greater staff 
flexibility, and better reflect the current work environment and 
priorities within ORR. The statement of organization, functions, and 
delegations of authority conforms to and carries out the statutory 
requirements for operating ORR.
    This notice amends Part K of the Statement of Mission, 
Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS), ACF as follows: Chapter KR, ORR (76 
FR 70149-70150), as last amended November 10, 2011.
    I. Under Chapter KR, ORR, delete KR.10 Organization, in its 
entirety and replace with the following:
    KR.10 Organization. ORR is headed by a Director, who reports to the 
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. The Office is organized 
as follows:

Office of the Director (KRA)
Division of Policy (KRA1)
Division of Refugee Assistance (KRE)
Division of Refugee Services (KRF)
Division of Children's Services (KRH)
Division of Anti-Trafficking in Persons (KRI)
Division of Refugee Health (KRJ)


[[Page 3615]]


    II. Under Chapter KR, ORR, delete KR.20 Functions, in its entirety 
and replace with the following:
    KR.20 Functions.
    A. The Office of the Director is directly responsible to the 
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families for carrying out ORR's 
mission and providing guidance and general supervision to the 
components of ORR. The office provides direction in the development of 
general supervision to the components of ORR. The office provides 
direction in the development of program policy and budget and in the 
formulation of salaries and expense budgets. Staff also provide 
administrative and personnel support services.
    The Office of the Director coordinates with the lead refugee and 
entrant program offices of other federal departments; provides 
leadership in representing refugee and entrant programs, policies, and 
administration to a variety of governmental entities and other public 
and private interests; and acts as the coordinator of the total refugee 
and entrant resettlement effort for ACF and the Department. The office 
oversees the care and custody of unaccompanied alien children, grants 
specific consent for those who wish to invoke the jurisdiction of a 
state court for a dependency order to seek Special Immigrant Juvenile 
status, and makes determinations of eligibility for the Unaccompanied 
Refugee Minors Program.
    The Office of the Director prepares annual budget estimates and 
related materials; and develops regulations, legislative proposals, and 
routine interpretations of policy as they relate to each of the program 
areas. The office performs allocation and tracking of funds for all 
programs. The office collects data and performs analysis on the 
changing needs of the refugee and entrant population, provides 
leadership to identify data needs and sources, and formulates data and 
reporting requirements.
    Within the Office of the Director, the Division of Policy is 
comprised of a Director of Policy and professional staff with expertise 
in all areas of ORR programming, including staff that handle high 
profile projects or multi-program functions. The Division of Policy 
assesses and evaluates ORR programs and their legal authorities and 
proactively recommends policy development, regulation updates and 
changes, and operational and management actions to comply with 
statutory parameters. The division advises the ORR Director, deputies, 
division directors, and regional staff on a wide range of significant 
and sensitive policy-related matters and strategies for attaining ORR 
policy objectives. The division identifies major emerging policy 
issues, develops policy options and strategies, and implements policy 
initiatives, including the drafting of policies, guidance, and 
regulations. The Division of Policy also leads the office in the 
development of strategic goals and objectives and ensures that policies 
and operational and management activities are designed to achieve ORR, 
ACF, and Department goals.
    The Division of Policy develops clearance and informational 
memoranda, briefing materials, and summary statements for ORR, ACF, and 
Department leadership on complex and sensitive ORR matters. The 
division collaborates with the ORR operating divisions and regional 
staff to clarify and enhance existing policies and guidance, 
particularly in areas where the work of two or more divisions and the 
regions overlap.
    The Division of Policy serves as the ORR point of contact for other 
ACF and HHS offices related to legal, congressional, and evaluation 
issues, such as the Office of the General Counsel, Office of 
Legislative Affairs and Budget, Government Accountability Office, and 
Office of Inspector General. The division represents ORR on interagency 
working groups and collaborates with both government and private sector 
leaders on ORR policy-related issues and developments.
    Within the Office of the Director, the Deputy Director assumes the 
Director's responsibilities in the absence of the Director and provides 
oversight to the Division of Refugee Health, Division of Refugee 
Services, and the Division of Refugee Assistance.
    The Associate Deputy Director provides oversight to the Division of 
Children's Services and the Division of Anti-Trafficking in Persons.
    B. The Division of Refugee Assistance represents ORR in 
coordinating services and capacity for refugees in a manner that helps 
refugees become employed and economically self-sufficient soon after 
their arrival in the United States. The division monitors and provides 
technical assistance to the state-administered domestic assistance 
programs and Wilson/Fish projects. The Division works closely with each 
state in designing a resettlement program specific to the needs of 
incoming populations. The division develops guidance and procedures for 
their implementation and manages special initiatives to increase 
refugee self-sufficiency, such as through state-funded discretionary 
grants or pilot programs. The division also assists public and private 
agencies on data reporting and the resolution of reporting problems. 
The division develops and supports the flow of information on refugee 
profiles and community resources in support of effective placement at 
the state and local level. The division works closely with the 
Department of State to ensure effective and seamless orientation from 
overseas to local resettlement community. The division manages the 
effective allocation of formula social services and targeted assistance 
in support of newly arriving populations. The division tracks all state 
costs related to refugee assistance.
    C. The Division of Refugee Services directs and manages effective 
refugee resettlement through the programmatic implementation of grants, 
contracts, and special initiatives, such as the Matching Grant Program. 
The division oversees and monitors most ORR discretionary grants, 
recommends grantee allocation, coordinates with the grants management 
office to review the financial expenditures under discretionary grant 
programs, provides data in support of apportionment requests, and 
provides technical assistance on discretionary grants operations. The 
division coordinates and provides liaison with the Department and other 
federal agencies on discretionary grant operational issues and other 
activities as specified by the Director or required by congressional 
mandate. The division responds to unanticipated refugee and entrant 
arrivals or significant increases in arrivals to communities where 
adequate or appropriate services do not exist through supplemental 
initiatives. The division works to promote economic independence among 
refugees through social services, educational services, and intensive 
case management and community development initiatives.
    D. The Division of Children's Services supports services to 
unaccompanied children who are referred to ORR for care as refugees, 
asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, children granted Special Immigrant 
Juvenile Visas and those pending immigration status, or identified as 
victims of trafficking. The division implements intake and placement 
decisions for all unaccompanied refugee and alien children. The 
division supports specialized care through grants, contracts, and 
state-administered unaccompanied minors programs. The division conducts 
monitoring and inspections of facilities and placement locations in 
which unaccompanied children reside. The division also

[[Page 3616]]

maintains statistical information and data on each child and any 
actions concerning the child while the child is under the Director's 
care.
    The division ensures consideration of the child's best interest in 
care and custody decisions. The division coordinates all decisions 
related to sponsor reunification, background checks, home assessments, 
follow-up services, medical assessment and treatment, sponsorship 
breakdowns, repatriation, and movement of children into the 
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program.
    The division develops policy to ensure all children's programs are 
administered in a manner that ensures the best interest of the child; 
and that services are administered in a manner that supports child 
welfare standards of care and services to include training, 
accreditation, legal services, assessment, and trauma-related 
initiatives.
    The division administers the pro bono legal services and child 
advocate program and compiles a state-by-state list of professionals or 
entities qualified to provide the children with a guardian and attorney 
representational services.
    E. The Division of Anti-Trafficking in Persons is responsible for 
implementing certain provisions of the Trafficking Victims Protection 
Act. The division coordinates the certification of and services to 
victims of severe forms of trafficking, promotes public awareness on 
human trafficking, and increases identification of potential victims of 
severe forms of trafficking. The division manages these activities 
through grants and contracts. It also coordinates with other federal 
government agencies on certification activities and policy issues 
related to the trafficking laws. The division certifies victims of 
severe forms of trafficking following consultation with appropriate 
federal and state government agencies and social service agencies. The 
division coordinates with the appropriate entities for the 
determination and placement of identified and certified unaccompanied 
minor victims of trafficking. It maintains statistical information and 
data on each victim, including certification documentation and services 
provided. The division compiles an annual report, in coordination with 
other federal agencies, on the number of certifications issued to and 
services accessed by identified victims.
    F. The Division of Refugee Health provides direction for assuring 
that refugees are provided medical assistance and mental health 
services through the state-administered program and alternative 
programs such as the Wilson/Fish projects. The division ensures the 
quality of medical screening and initial medical treatment of refugees 
through its administration of grant programs, technical assistance, and 
interagency agreements in support of comprehensive medical and mental 
health services. The division supports coordination of services to 
refugees under the Affordable Care Act. The division also supports 
mental health services to victims of torture.
    The Division works closely with State Refugee Health Coordinators 
in the planning and provision of medical and mental health services to 
meet the individual needs of incoming populations. The division tracks 
all state costs related to refugee medical assistance and screening.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eskinder Negash, Director, Office of 
Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, 901 D 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20447, (202) 401-9246.

    Dated: January 15, 2015.
Mark Greenberg,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 2015-01125 Filed 1-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-27-P