Notice2024-29188
Unaccompanied Children Office of the Ombuds (UCOO) Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 11, 2024
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has reorganized to establish the Unaccompanied Children Office of the Ombuds (UCOO) within the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary, to be headed by a Director ("Ombuds"), who reports directly to the HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 99875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29188]
[[Page 99875]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Unaccompanied Children Office of the Ombuds (UCOO) Statement of
Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice of reorganization; Establishment of the Unaccompanied
Children Office of the Ombuds (UCOO).
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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has
reorganized to establish the Unaccompanied Children Office of the
Ombuds (UCOO) within the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary,
to be headed by a Director (``Ombuds''), who reports directly to the
HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leah Chavla, Senior Advisor,
Administration for Children and Families, 330 C Street SW, Washington,
DC 20201, (202) 838-3307.
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, Immediate Office
of the Assistant Secretary as last amended by 88 FR 17229-17233 dated
March 22, 2023.
I. Amend Chapter K, Administration for Children and Families, Chapter
KA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families,
Subchapter KA.10 Organization, by Adding
Unaccompanied Children Office of the Ombuds (KAO)
II. Amend Chapter KA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children
and Families, by Establishing Chapter KAO, Unaccompanied Children
Office of the Ombuds
KAO.00 Mission. The Mission of the Unaccompanied Children Office of
the Ombuds (UCOO) is to be an independent, impartial office with
authority to receive reports, including confidential and informal
reports, of concerns regarding the care and custody of unaccompanied
children; to investigate such reports; to work collaboratively with the
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to potentially resolve such
reports; issue its own reports concerning UCOO's efforts; and make
recommendations to ORR regarding UC program policies and procedures
related to protecting unaccompanied children in the care and custody of
ORR.
KAO.10 Organization. The UCOO is headed by a Director (``Ombuds''),
who reports directly to the ACF Assistant Secretary, and consists of:
Immediate Office of the Ombuds for Unaccompanied Children (KAO1)
Division of Case Management (KAO2)
Division of Operations (KAO3)
KAO.20 Functions. The UCOO may engage in activities including, but
not limited to: (1) Receiving reports from unaccompanied children,
potential sponsors, other stakeholders in a child's case, and the
public regarding ORR's adherence to its regulations and standards; (2)
Investigating implementation of or adherence to Federal law and ORR
regulations, in response to reports it receives, and meeting with
interested parties to receive input on ORR's compliance with Federal
law and ORR policy; (3) Requesting and receiving information or
documents, such as the Ombuds deems relevant, from ORR and ORR care
provider facilities, to determine implementation of and adherence to
Federal law and ORR policy; (4) Preparing formal reports and
recommendations on findings to publish or present, including an annual
report describing activities conducted in the prior year; (5)
Conducting investigations, interviews, and site visits at care provider
facilities as necessary to aid in the preparation of reports and
recommendations; (6) Visiting ORR care providers in which unaccompanied
children are or will be housed; (7) Reviewing individual circumstances,
including, but not limited to, concerns about unaccompanied children's
access to services, ability to communicate with service providers,
parents/legal guardians of children in ORR custody, sponsors, and
matters related to transfers within or discharge from ORR care; (8)
Making efforts to resolve complaints or concerns raised by interested
parties as it relates to ORR's implementation or adherence to Federal
law or ORR policy; (9) Hiring and retaining others, including, but not
limited to, independent experts, specialists, assistants, interpreters,
and translators to assist the Ombuds in the performance of their
duties; (10) Making non-binding recommendations to ORR regarding its
policies and procedures, specific to protecting unaccompanied children
in the care of ORR; (11) Providing general educational information
about pertinent laws, regulations, and policies, ORR child advocates,
and legal services as appropriate; and (12) Advising and updating the
Director of ORR, Assistant Secretary, and the Secretary, as
appropriate, on the status of ORR's implementation and adherence with
Federal law or ORR policy.
The Ombuds shall manage the files, records, and other information
of the program, regardless of format, and such files must be maintained
in a manner that preserves the confidentiality of the records except in
instances of imminent harm or judicial action and is prohibited from
using or sharing information for any immigration enforcement related
purpose.
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 re-delegations of authority made to officials
and employees of affected organizational components will continue in
them, or their successors, pending further re-delegations, 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.
This reorganization will be effective upon date of signature.
Xavier Becerra,
Secretary, Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2024-29188 Filed 12-9-24; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 11, 2024.
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