Notice2023-05366
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
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Published
March 22, 2023
Effective
March 17, 2023
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has added a new office, the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families and transfers the functions of the Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services to this office. Within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), it renames the Office of Management Services to the Executive Office. Within the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), it renames the Division for Optimal Adolescent Development to the Division of Positive Youth Development and renames the Division of Evaluation, Data, and Policy to the Division of Data, Performance, and Policy. It also creates an Office of Budget in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 55 (Wednesday, March 22, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17229-17233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05366]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families,
Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Statement of
Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, HHS
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has added a
new office, the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, to
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families and
transfers the functions of the Division of Family Violence Prevention
and Services to this office. Within the Administration on Children,
Youth and Families (ACYF), it renames the Office of Management Services
to the Executive Office. Within the Family and Youth Services Bureau
(FYSB), it renames the Division for Optimal Adolescent Development to
the Division of Positive Youth Development and renames the Division of
Evaluation, Data, and Policy to the Division of Data, Performance, and
Policy. It also creates an Office of Budget in the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
DATES: This reorganization was approved by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services on March 1, 2023, and took effect on March 17, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shawndell Dawson, Division of Family
Violence Prevention and Services, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC
20201, (202) 205-1476.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice amends Part K of the Statement
of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for
Children and Families (ACF) as follows: Chapter KA, Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, as last amended by 85 FR
52607, March 26, 2020, and Chapter KB, Administration on Children,
Youth and Families (ACYF), as last amended in 85 FR 15785, March 19,
2020. The changes are as follows:
I. Under Chapter KA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children
and Families, make the following changes:
A. Delete KA.00 Mission in its entirety and replace with the
following:
KA.00 Mission. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children
and Families (OAS) provides executive direction, leadership, and
guidance for all ACF programs. OAS provides national leadership to
develop and coordinate public and private initiatives for carrying out
programs that promote permanency placement planning, family stability,
and self-sufficiency. OAS advises the Secretary on issues affecting
America's children and families, including Native Americans, refugees,
survivors of domestic violence, youth experiencing homelessness,
children and families in the child welfare system, and survivors of
human trafficking. OAS provides leadership and coordination on human
services and early childhood
[[Page 17230]]
development issues and conducts emergency preparedness and response
operations during a nationally declared emergency.
B. Delete KA.10 Organization in its entirety and replace with the
following:
KA.10 Organization. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families is headed by the Assistant Secretary for Children
and Families who reports directly to the Secretary and consists of:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families (KA)
Executive Secretariat Office (KAF)
Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (KAG)
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Inter-Departmental Liaison
for Early Childhood Development (KAH)
Office on Trafficking in Persons (KAI)
Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (KAJ)
Office of Budget (KAK)
C. Establish KA.20 Functions, Paragraph F, The Office of Budget:
F. The Office of Budget manages the formulation and execution of
the budgets for OAS programs and OAS' portion of the federal
administration budget, serves as the central control point for
operational and long range planning, manages procurement planning and
provides technical assistance regarding procurement, acquires OAS
supplies, provides oversight and technical assistance on funds planning
for travel expenditures and travel administration on obligation and
payment issues, monitors the obligation and expenditure of OAS funds
through the lifecycle of the appropriations, and provides leadership
and advice on financial policy issues that cut across all the OAS
program and funding mechanisms.
D. Establish KA.20 Functions, Paragraph G, The Office of Family
Violence Prevention and Services:
G. The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (KAJ):
The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) is
responsible for the overall leadership of family violence, domestic
violence, and dating violence prevention, intervention, response, and
awareness programs and services under the purview of ACF. The OFVPS
serves as an advisor to the Assistant Secretary, ACF, recommending
policy strategies and interagency collaborations to address the
coordination of services involving domestic violence survivors and
their children. Under the leadership of the Assistant Secretary, ACF,
OFPVS assesses policies and legislation, and develops program
initiatives for domestic violence and dating violence prevention and
services. OFVPS recommends budgetary and legislative proposals and
subject areas for research/evaluation and demonstration activities, and
it coordinates efforts with and provides expert advice to departmental
and other federal agencies on issues and programs for survivors of
domestic violence and their children. The OFVPS promotes public
awareness about family violence, domestic violence, and dating
violence. The OFVPS also promotes awareness about the impact of family
violence, and effective prevention and intervention strategies to
address the problem. The OFVPS programs provide immediate shelter and
related assistance to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence,
and family violence and their dependents; provide for research into the
most effective methods of domestic violence prevention, identification,
and intervention; and provide training and technical assistance to
domestic violence and dating violence programs including states,
territories, tribes, coalitions, culturally specific organizations,
rural communities, faith-based organizations, local public agencies
(such as early childhood programs, social service agencies, child
welfare programs, mental health and substance abuse treatment programs,
and health care providers), and non-profit organizations. The OFVPS
provides support for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which
operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is available in 200
languages, including services in Spanish, video and/or text chat for
Deaf and Hard of Hearing survivors, and culturally specific response to
Native American victims by Native advocates. The OFVPS supports the
development of services to address the needs of children exposed to
domestic violence and their abused parents.
The OFVPS is responsible for developing, updating, and implementing
program regulations and policies. The OFVPS oversees the receipt and
review of applications for formula and discretionary grants and grantee
activities. It also provides guidance, review, support, and assistance
to states, territories, tribes, coalitions, resource centers, hotlines,
and sub awardees on HHS policies, regulations, procedures, and systems
necessary to ensure efficient program operation at the state,
territorial, tribal, and community levels. In addition, the OFVPS
coordinates shelter and supportive service programs for survivors and
potential victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and family
violence and their dependents. OFVPS also represents ACF and HHS on
various councils, workgroups, and committees and provides leadership
and coordination to other ACF and HHS programs and agencies to better
meet the needs of domestic violence and dating violence survivors.
II. Under Chapter KB, Administration on Children, Youth and
Families, delete KB in its entirety and replace with the following:
KB.00 Mission. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families
(ACYF) advises the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families, on matters relating to the sound development of
children, youth, and families by planning, developing, and implementing
a broad range of activities that prevent or remediate the effects of
trauma, abuse, and/or neglect of children and youth and promote child,
adolescent, and family wellbeing.
ACYF administers state grant programs under titles IV-B and IV-E of
the Social Security Act, manages the Adoption Opportunities program and
other discretionary programs for the development and provision of child
welfare services, and implements the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (CAPTA). It administers programs under the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act and manages prevention programs that support
positive adolescent development and wellbeing authorized through Title
V of the Social Security Act under Section 510 for Sexual Risk
Avoidance Education and Section 513 for Personal Responsibility
Education Program.
In concert with other components of ACF, ACYF develops and
implements research, demonstration, and evaluation strategies for the
discretionary funding of activities designed to improve and enrich the
lives of children and youth and to strengthen families. It administers
Child Welfare Services training and research and demonstration programs
authorized by title IV-B of the Social Security Act and oversees
promising youth development programs.
KB.10 Organization. The Administration on Children, Youth and
Families is headed by a commissioner, who reports directly to the
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, and consists of:
Office of the Commissioner (KBA)
Executive Office (KBA1)
Office Of Budget (KBA2)
Children's Bureau (KBD)
Children's Bureau Regional Program Units (KBDDI-X)
Office of Child Abuse and Neglect (KBD1)
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Division of Policy (KBD2)
Division of Program Implementation (KBD3)
Division of Program Innovation (KBD4)
Division of Child Welfare Capacity Building (KBD5)
Division of State Systems (KBD6)
Division of Performance Measurement and Improvement (KBD7)
Family and Youth Services Bureau (KBE)
Division of Positive Youth Development (KBE1)
Division of Data, Performance, and Policy (KBE3)
Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth (KBE4)
KB.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Commissioner serves as
principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families,
the Secretary, and other officials of the Department on the sound
development of children, youth, and families. It provides executive
direction and management strategy to ACYF components. The Deputy
Commissioner assists the Commissioner in carrying out the
responsibilities of the Office. The Office of the Commissioner is
comprised of two offices:
The Executive Office functions as Executive Secretariat for the
Office of the Commissioner, including managing correspondence,
correspondence systems, and electronic mail requests; coordinates the
provision of staff development and training; provides support for
ACYF's personnel administration, including staffing, employee and labor
relations, performance management, and employee recognition; manages
ACYF-controlled space and facilities; performs manpower planning and
administration; plans for, distributes, and controls ACYF supplies;
provides mail and messenger services; maintains duplicating, fax, and
computer and computer peripheral equipment; supports and manages
automation within ACYF; provides for health and safety; and oversees
travel administration, time and attendance, and other administrative
functions for ACYF.
The Office of Budget manages the formulation and execution of the
budgets for ACYF programs and for federal administration, serves as the
central control point for operational and long range planning, manages
procurement planning and provides technical assistance regarding
procurement, acquires ACYF supplies, provides oversight and technical
assistance on funds planning for travel expenditures and travel
administration on obligation and payment issues, monitors the
obligation and expenditure of ACYF funds through the lifecycle of the
appropriations, and provides leadership and advice on financial policy
issues that cut across all the ACYF program and funding mechanisms.
B. The Children's Bureau (CB) is headed by an Associate
Commissioner who advises the Commissioner, ACYF, on matters related to
the administration of state and tribal child welfare systems, including
child abuse and neglect, child protective services, family preservation
and support, adoption, foster care and independent living, and child
abuse and neglect prevention. A Deputy Associate Commissioner supports
the Associate Commissioner and manages the day-to-day operations of the
CB. CB recommends legislative and budgetary proposals, operational
planning system objectives and initiatives, and projects and issue
areas for evaluation, research, and demonstration activities. CB
represents ACYF in initiating and implementing interagency activities
and projects affecting children and families, and provides leadership
and coordination for the programs, activities, and subordinate
components of the Bureau. The Bureau is comprised of eight units:
The Regional Program Unit is headed by the Director of Regional
Programs who reports to the Deputy Associate Commissioner, CB, within
ACYF. The Director of Regional Programs, through subordinate Regional
Program Managers and their staff, in collaboration with program
components, is responsible for (1) providing program and technical
administration of CB formula, entitlement, block, and discretionary
programs related to child welfare, including child abuse and neglect
prevention, child protective services, family preservation and support,
adoption, foster care, and independent living; (2) collaborating with
the ACF Central Office, states, and grantees on all program matters for
programs or issues that have significant implications for the programs;
(3) providing technical assistance to entities responsible for
administering CB programs to resolve identified problems; (4) ensuring
that appropriate procedures and practices are adopted; (5) working with
appropriate state and local officials to develop and implement outcome-
based performance measures; and (6) monitoring the programs to ensure
their efficiency and effectiveness, and ensuring that these entities
conform to federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures
governing the programs.
The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect provides leadership and
direction on the issues of child maltreatment and the prevention of
abuse and neglect under CAPTA. It is the focal point for interagency
collaborative efforts, national conferences, and special initiatives
related to child abuse and neglect, and for coordinating activities
related to the prevention of abuse and neglect and the protection of
children at risk of maltreatment. It supports activities to build
networks of community-based, prevention-focused family resource and
support programs through the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention
Grants. It supports improvement in the state systems that handle child
abuse and neglect cases, particularly child sexual abuse and
exploitation- and maltreatment-related fatalities, and improvement in
the investigation and prosecution of these cases through the Children's
Justice Act.
The Division of Policy provides leadership and direction in policy
development and interpretation of titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social
Security Act and the Basic State Grant under CAPTA. It writes
regulations and interprets policy for the Bureau's formula and
entitlement grant programs and responds to requests for policy
clarification from ACF Regional Offices and other sources.
The Division of Program Implementation provides leadership and
direction in the operation and review of programs under titles IV-B and
IV-E of the Social Security Act and the Basic State Grant under CAPTA.
It develops program instructions, information memoranda, and annual
reports related to these programs. It analyzes State Plans and develops
state profiles and other reports. It is responsible for the Monitoring
Team, which schedules and coordinates the monitoring of the state title
IV-E reviews and ensures effective corrective action if necessary. It
is the focal point for financial issues, including disallowances,
appeals, and the decisions of the Departmental Appeals Board (DAB).
The Division of Program Innovation provides leadership and
direction in program development, innovation, and research. It defines
critical issues for investigation and makes recommendations regarding
subject areas for research, demonstration, and evaluation. It
administers the Bureau's discretionary grant programs and awards
project grants to state and local agencies and organizations
nationwide.
The Division of Child Welfare Capacity Building provides leadership
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and direction in the areas of training, technical assistance, and
information dissemination under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social
Security Act, and under CAPTA. Either directly or through grants or
contracts, it provides training and technical assistance to assist
service providers, state and local governments, and tribes. It manages
discretionary training grants under section 426 of the Social Security
Act and title IV-E training and directs the operations and activities
of statutorily mandated clearinghouses. The Division identifies best
practices for treating vulnerable families and preventing abuse and
neglect. It participates in the development of funding opportunity
announcements and manages certain discretionary grant projects.
The Division of State Systems (DSS) reviews, assesses, and inspects
the planning, design, and operation of state management information
systems and approves advanced planning documents for automated data
systems. The Division provides leadership for the provision of
technical assistance to states on information systems projects and
advances the use of computer technology in the administration of child
welfare and social services programs by states. The Division reviews,
analyzes, and approves/disapproves state requests for federal financial
participation for automated systems development and related activities
that support child welfare programs, including foster care and
adoption. It provides assistance to states in developing or modifying
automation plans to conform to federal requirements, monitors approved
state system development activities, and conducts periodic reviews to
ensure state compliance with regulatory requirements applicable to
automated systems supported by federal financial participation. It
provides guidance to states on functional requirements for these
automated information systems.
The Division of Performance Measurement and Improvement provides
oversight in the collection, analysis, and reporting of state-level
data reported to CB through mandated data collections; oversees an
outcomes-oriented review of state child welfare systems; and sets,
tracks, and reports on performance indicators in response to the
Government Performance and Results Act and other performance-oriented
mandates. The Division is comprised of two teams. The Data Analytics
and Reporting Team collects, analyzes, and disseminates program data
from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System
(AFCARS), the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD), and the
National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems (NCANDS); ensures
accuracy of data reporting; develops systematic methods of measuring
the impact and effectiveness of various child welfare programs; and
performs statistical sampling functions. The Child and Family Services
Review Team, in partnership with CB's Regional Program Units, carries
out reviews of child protection, foster care, adoption, family
preservation, family support, and independent living services provided
by the states. The Child and Family Services Review Team ensures the
accuracy and consistency of the review protocol across all states of
the review process and in subsequent program improvement efforts.
C. The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is headed by an
Associate Commissioner who recommends policy direction and programs to
address issues involving vulnerable, at-risk youth and their families
to the Commissioner, ACYF. FYSB supports the organizations and
communities working to prevent and respond to youth homelessness, youth
at risk of trafficking and sexual exploitation, and promote positive
adolescent health and development through programs that provide
shelter, community services, and prevention education for youth,
adults, and families.
A Deputy Associate Commissioner supports the Associate Commissioner
and manages the day-to-day operations of FYSB. The Bureau assesses and
recommends policies, data and performance measures, and legislation and
develops program initiatives to support youth who have or are at-risk
of leaving home due to family conflict or other crisis, youth
experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness or sexual
exploitation, and adolescent development and wellbeing. FYSB recommends
budgetary and legislative proposals, operational planning initiatives,
and projects and subject areas for research, evaluation, and
demonstration activities. FYSB coordinates efforts with and provides
expert advice to departmental and other federal agencies on supporting
vulnerable youth, including youth who have run away from home due to
family conflict or other crises, youth experiencing or at risk of
experiencing homelessness or housing instability; youth at risk of
trafficking, sexual exploitation, or violent crime victimization; youth
at risk of unplanned pregnancy or becoming teen parents; and any youth
in at-risk situations. FYSB represents HHS on various councils,
workgroups, and committees and provides leadership and coordination to
other HHS programs and Federal agencies working to address youth
homelessness, youth at risk of trafficking and sexual exploitation, and
positive adolescent development and wellbeing. The Bureau is comprised
of three Divisions:
The Division of Data, Performance, and Policy (DPP) provides
leadership and direction for FYSB, informing program and policy
development and innovation through evaluation strategies and data
analysis for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness, youth at
risk of trafficking, adolescent pregnancy prevention, and promotion of
adolescent health and wellbeing. The Division leads the management of
the legislatively mandated data information systems and all evaluation
efforts within FYSB. The Division directs evaluation efforts to include
study design; instrument development; and rigorous, methodological
approaches; and conducts analysis of data to inform the policy and
program priorities of FYSB programs. The Division develops and
implements FYSB's standard measures for evaluating program performance
for the improvement of services to vulnerable populations. It oversees
collection of FYSB's performance standards and performance measurement
process, evaluation strategies, development of program outcomes, and
the synthesis of data to inform and support innovation for each
program. The Division provides leadership and direction in policy
development and policy analysis of legislation and budget proposals,
responds to requests for policy clarification, and assesses the impact
of authorizing legislations on FYSB's programs. The Division provides
recommendations to the Associate Commissioner and Deputy Associate
Commissioner on strategic priorities, policy direction, and
programmatic improvements to address issues impacting vulnerable youth
and their families and adolescent health and wellbeing. The Division
also works collaboratively across ACF and with strategic partnerships
and identifies issue areas for evaluation, research, and demonstration
initiatives.
The Division of Positive Youth Development administers an array of
prevention services to address the wellbeing of adolescents by funding
projects to states, tribes, and community-based organizations to
provide education to youth (and their families) on how to prevent teen
pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including
HIV/
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AIDS, and skills training to promote healthy relationships and healthy
life skills. The Division supports the implementation of evidence-
based, age-appropriate, and medically accurate models, including
intervention strategies that support the successful transition of youth
through adolescence and into adulthood with a holistic approach to
teaching the benefits of healthy decision-making, healthy
relationships, and mental health and wellbeing. The Division provides
technical support to ensure compliance with programmatic and fiscal
requirements of programs across all funding streams, as directed by the
application of federal policy, regulations, and laws. The Division
researches and develops conceptual models pertaining to adolescent
sexual health and wellbeing, monitors funded programs, and ensures the
provision of technical assistance and training through contracts,
cooperative agreements, and Interagency Agreements. This includes the
development and management of a social media marketing campaign to
provide messaging to youth on positive adolescent development and
wellbeing.
The Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth administers prevention,
crisis response, shelter, and supportive services to youth and young
adults who have run away from home due to family conflict or other
crisis or are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. The
Division administers the runaway and homeless youth program that
incorporates the Basic Center, Street Outreach, Transitional Living,
and Maternity Group Home programs. The Division also conducts
development and implementation of policy, guidance, and regulations
concerning the funding and management of service projects for youth in
compliance with the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. The Division
designs, develops, funds, and monitors support activities related to
RHY programs including, but not limited to, the provision of technical
assistance, executing a monitoring system, maintaining a requisite data
collection system, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and
Technical Assistance Center, the National Clearinghouse on Homeless
Youth and Families, and the National Runaway Safeline. The Division
oversees the receipt and review of applications for discretionary
grants in these program areas and monitors the management of these
grants through monthly contacts and on-site visits through the ACF
Regional Offices.
III. Continuation of Policy. Except as inconsistent with this
reorganization, all statements of policy and interpretations with
respect to organizational components affected by this notice within
ACF, heretofore issued and in effect on this date of this
reorganization are continued in full force and effect.
IV. Delegation of Authority. All delegations and redelegations of
authority made to officials and employees of affected organizational
components will continue in them or their successors pending further
redelegations, provided they are consistent with this reorganization.
V. Funds, Personnel, and Equipment. Transfer of organizations and
functions affected by this reorganization shall be accompanied in each
instance by direct and support funds, positions, personnel, records,
equipment, supplies, and other resources.
Xavier Becerra,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-05366 Filed 3-20-23; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
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