[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