[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3053-3054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-983]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Statement of Mission, Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    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), Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF), as follows: Chapter KE, Administration for Native 
Americans (ANA), as last amended in 60 FR 17084-85, 04/04/95. This 
notice establishes the Division of Policy, Planning and Evaluation and 
moves the support staff function to the Office of the Commissioner. The 
changes are as follows:

I. Chapter KE. Administration for Native Americans

    A. Delete KE. 00 Mission in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KE. 00 Mission. The mission of the Administration for Native 
Americans is to promote the goal of self-sufficiency and cultural 
preservation for Native Americans by providing social and economic 
development opportunities through financial assistance, training, and 
technical assistance to eligible Tribes and Native American 
communities, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native 
Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islander organizations. ANA 
provides funding for community-based projects that are designed to 
improve the lives of Native children and families and reduce long-term 
dependency on public assistance. Competitive funding authorized under 
the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, for community-
based projects is provided through three competitive discretionary 
grant programs to eligible Tribes and non-profit Native American 
organizations: Social and economic development, language preservation, 
and environmental regulatory enhancement.
    B. Delete KE. 10 Organization in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KE.10 Organization. The Administration for Native Americans is 
headed by a Commissioner who is confirmed by the Senate and reports 
directly to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
    The ANA organization includes the: Office of the Commissioner 
(KEA); Intra-Departmental Council on Native American Affairs (KEB); 
Division of Program Operations (KEC); Division of Policy, Planning and 
Evaluation (KED).
    C. Delete KE.20 Functions in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KE. 20 Functions
    A. The Office of the Commissioner provides executive leadership and 
management strategies for all components of ANA. As required by 
statute, the Commissioner is Chair of the Intra-Departmental Council on 
Native American Affairs and advises the Secretary on all matters 
affecting Native Americans that involve the Department. The 
Commissioner serves as an effective and visible advocate on behalf of 
Native Americans within the Department, and with other departments and 
agencies of the Federal Government regarding all Federal policies 
affecting Native Americans. The Commissioner provides policy direction 
and guidance to ACF Regional Offices with respect to programs for Urban 
Indians, off-Reservation Indians, and other Native American projects in 
Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. The Commissioner oversees the Native 
Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund administered by the Office of Hawaiian 
Affairs. In the absence of the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner is 
responsible for all organizational management.
    The Management Operations Staff (MOS) is responsible for ANA Budget 
and Administrative functions. MOS coordinates ANA budget activities, 
the ANA funding decision memo, data collection, personnel actions, 
ANA's electronic library, tracking of required grant reports, and 
oversees contract expenditures. The staff members control the flow of 
correspondence, including receipt of and response to Freedom of 
Information Act requests.
    B. The Commissioner is the Chair of the Intra-Departmental Council 
on Native American Affairs (ICNAA) and advises the Secretary on Native 
American issues. ICNAA staff members provide support to the 
Commissioner. ICNAA develops and promotes HHS policy to provide greater 
access and quality services for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and 
Native Americans (AI/AN/NAs) throughout the Department and where 
possible, the Federal Government; promotes implementation of HHS policy 
and agency plans on consultation with AI/AN/NAs and Tribal Governments; 
identifies and develops legislative, administrative, and regulatory 
proposals that promotes an effective, meaningful AI/AN/NA policy to 
improve health and human services for AI/AN/NAs; identifies and 
develops comprehensive Departmental strategy proposal to promote self-
sufficiency and self-determination for all AI/AN/NA people; and 
promotes the Tribal/Federal government-to-government relationship on a 
Department-wide basis in accordance with Presidential Executive Order.
    C. The Division of Program Operations (DPO) is responsible for the 
administration of discretionary grant programs to eligible Tribes and 
non-profit Native American organizations. The responsibilities include 
(1) Annual grant competitions and coordination of the panel review 
process, (2) development of ANA's Program Announcements, (3) grant 
oversight, and (4) grant close-out procedures. The DPO also manages and 
coordinates activities that support the ACF Native American Affairs 
Workgroup.
    D. The Division of Policy, Planning and Evaluation (DPPE) is 
responsible for development of organizational policies and planning; 
community impact evaluation; management of quarterly grantee project 
assessment; oversight of training and technical contracts; coordination 
of training and technical assistance activities in Alaska, the Pacific 
Basin, and the lower forty-eight states; development of organizational 
and Congressional reports; and completion of special organizational

[[Page 3054]]

studies. In coordination with the Office of Planning, Research and 
Evaluation, DPPE coordinates ANA's performance goals.

    Dated: January 9, 2009.
Daniel C. Schneider,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
 [FR Doc. E9-983 Filed 1-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P