Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority, 15785-15788 [2020-05869]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and
Families
Administration on Children, Youth and
Families; Statement of Organization,
Functions, and Delegations of
Authority
Administration for Children
and Families, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Statement of Organizations,
Functions, and Delegations of
Authority.
The Administration for Children and
Families (ACF) has reorganized the
Administration on Children, Youth and
Families (ACYF). The reorganization
has no impact on existing delegations of
authority. The reorganization within the
ACYF Office of the Commissioner
amends the functions of the Office of
Management Services and creates the
Office of Budget. Within the Children’s
Bureau (CB), it creates the Division of
Performance Measurement and
Improvement. It removes the Office of
Data Analysis, Research and Evaluation
from the Office of the Commissioner
and transfers the functions to the
Division of Performance Measurement
and Improvement. Within the Family
and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), it
renames the Division of Adolescent
Development and Support to the
Division for Optimal Adolescent
Development and elevates the Runaway
Homeless Youth office to the Division of
Runaway and Homeless Youth. It also
creates the Division of Evaluation, Data
and Policy. Lastly, it renames the
Division of Family Violence Prevention
to the Division of Family Violence
Prevention and Services.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Darling, Commissioner,
Administration on Children, Youth and
Families, 330 C Street SW, Washington,
DC 20201, (202) 401–2761.
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 KB, Administration on
Children, Youth and Families (ACYF),
as last amended in 76 FR 81505–81508,
December 28, 2011.
I. 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
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SUMMARY:
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(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, carries out the provisions of
the Family Violence Prevention and
Services Act, and manages adolescent
pregnancy prevention programs
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)
Office of Management Services (KBA1)
Office Of Budget (KBA2)
Children’s Bureau (KBD)
Children’s Bureau Regional Program
Units (KBDDI–X)
Office of Child Abuse and Neglect
(KBD1)
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 for Optimal Adolescent
Development (KBE1)
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Division of Family Violence Prevention
and Services (KBE2)
Division of Evaluation, Data 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 Office of Management Services
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 ACYFcontrolled 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,
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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-today 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 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
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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
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
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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 outcomesoriented 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
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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, survivors of
domestic violence and their families to
the Commissioner, ACYF. FYSB
supports the organizations and
communities working to end youth
homelessness, youth at risk of
trafficking and sexual exploitation,
adolescent pregnancy, and domestic
violence 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 and legislation
and develops program initiatives for
runaway and homeless youth, family
violence prevention and services (i.e.,
services addressing domestic violence,
and dating violence and to provide
immediate shelter and supportive
services for adult and youth victims),
adolescent pregnancy prevention, and
trafficking prevention services. 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 addressing and
preventing family violence, domestic
violence, and dating violence and for
implementing programs for vulnerable
youth, including runaway and homeless
youth; 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. The Bureau represents HHS
on various councils, workgroups, and
committees and provides leadership and
coordination to other HHS programs
and agencies working to address
runaway and homeless youth, youth at
risk of severe forms of trafficking and
sexual exploitation, domestic and dating
violence prevention and services, and
adolescent pregnancy prevention. The
Bureau is comprised of four Divisions:
The Division of Family Violence
Prevention and Services promotes
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public awareness about family violence,
domestic violence, and dating violence.
The Division also promotes awareness
about the impact of family violence, and
effective prevention and intervention
strategies to address the problem. The
Division’s programs provide immediate
shelter and related assistance to victims
of family violence and their dependents;
provide for research into the most
effective methods of family violence
prevention, identification, and
intervention; and provide training and
technical assistance to family violence
and domestic violence programs
including states, tribes, local public
agencies (such as law enforcement
agencies, courts, social service agencies,
child welfare programs, mental health
and substance abuse treatment
programs, and health care providers),
and non-profit organizations. The
Division 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 Division supports the development
of services to address the needs of
children exposed to domestic violence
and their abused parents. The Division
is responsible for developing, updating,
and implementing program regulations
and policies. The Division oversees the
receipt and review of applications for
grants and grantee activities. It also
provides guidance, review, support, and
assistance to states, tribes, discretionary
grantees and sub awardees on HHS
policies, regulations, procedures, and
systems necessary to ensure efficient
program operation at the state,
territorial, and tribal levels. In addition,
the Division coordinates all programs
for victims and potential victims of
family violence and their dependents.
The Division of Evaluation, Data and
Policy provides leadership and
direction for FYSB, informing program
and policy development and innovation
through evaluation strategies and data
analysis for runaway and homeless
youth, youth at risk of severe forms of
trafficking, adolescent pregnancy
prevention, and family violence
prevention and services. 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 (e.g.,
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regression, ANOVA, predictive
modeling) to inform the policy and
program priorities of FYSB programs. It
oversees FYSB’s performance standards
and performance measurement process,
evaluation strategies, program outcome
development, and the synthesis of data
to inform and support innovation in the
implementation of each program and
demonstration projects’ best and
emerging practices. The Division
provides leadership and direction in
policy development, responds to
requests for policy clarification, and
analyzes the implementation of FYSB’s
authorizing legislations. The Division
provides recommendations to the
Commissioner and Associate
Commissioner on strategic priorities,
policy direction, and programmatic
improvements to address issues
involving vulnerable youth and their
families, adolescent pregnancy
prevention, and victims of domestic
violence. The Division also recommends
legislative and budgetary proposals,
strategic partnerships, and identifies
issue areas for evaluation, research, and
demonstration initiatives.
The Division for Optimal Adolescent
Development administers an array of
adolescent pregnancy prevention
projects to states, tribes, and
community-based organizations that
provide education to youth on how to
prevent teen pregnancy and the spread
of sexually transmitted infections,
including HIV/AIDS, and provides
education on healthy relationships and
refraining from non-marital sexual
activity. The Division supports the
inclusion of evidence-based, ageappropriate, and medically accurate
strategies and models that support the
successful transition of youth through
adolescence and into adulthood with a
holistic approach to teaching the
benefits of personal responsibility,
healthy decision-making, goal setting,
and normalizing the optimal behavior of
avoiding non-marital sexual activity.
There is a subset of grant programs that
test innovative approaches to adolescent
pregnancy prevention through rigorous
evaluations conducted at local and
national levels. The collection of
performance measurement data
provides information to support
program improvement and to track
program outcomes. 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
develops the conceptual framework for
issues pertaining to adolescent
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pregnancy prevention, 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 that
normalize the optimal behavior of
avoiding non-marital sexual activity.
The Division of Runaway and
Homeless Youth serves as the national
leader for the provision of shelter and
supportive services to unaccompanied
homeless youth and administers the
runaway and homeless youth program
that incorporates the basic center, street
outreach, and transitional living
programs. The Division also conducts
development and implementation of
policy, guidelines, 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 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.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3101.
Dated: February 28, 2020.
Alex M. Azar II,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–05869 Filed 3–18–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA–2018–D–1041]
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Development of a Shared System Risk
Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy;
Draft Guidance for Industry;
Availability; Reopening of Comment
Period
AGENCY:
Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
Notice of availability; reopening
of the comment period.
ACTION:
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA or the Agency) is
SUMMARY:
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reopening the comment period for the
notice entitled ‘‘Development of a
Shared System REMS; Draft Guidance
for Industry; Availability’’ that appeared
in the Federal Register of June 1, 2018.
The Agency is taking this action to
allow interested persons additional time
to submit comments.
DATES: FDA is reopening the comment
period for the notice published on June
1, 2018 (83 FR 25468). Submit either
electronic or written comments on the
draft guidance by May 18, 2020 to
ensure that the Agency considers your
comment on this draft guidance before
it begins work on the final version of the
guidance.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on any guidances at any time as follows:
Electronic Submissions
Submit electronic comments in the
following way:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Comments submitted electronically,
including attachments, to https://
www.regulations.gov will be posted to
the docket unchanged. Because your
comment will be made public, you are
solely responsible for ensuring that your
comment does not include any
confidential information that you or a
third party may not wish to be posted,
such as medical information, your or
anyone else’s Social Security number, or
confidential business information, such
as a manufacturing process. Please note
that if you include your name, contact
information, or other information that
identifies you in the body of your
comments, that information will be
posted on https://www.regulations.gov.
• If you want to submit a comment
with confidential information that you
do not wish to be made available to the
public, submit the comment as a
written/paper submission and in the
manner detailed (see ‘‘Written/Paper
Submissions’’ and ‘‘Instructions’’).
Written/Paper Submissions
Submit written/paper submissions as
follows:
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for
written/paper submissions): Dockets
Management Staff (HFA–305), Food and
Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers
Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
• For written/paper comments
submitted to the Dockets Management
Staff, FDA will post your comment, as
well as any attachments, except for
information submitted, marked and
identified, as confidential, if submitted
as detailed in ‘‘Instructions.’’
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the Docket No. FDA–
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2018–D–1041 for ‘‘Development of
Shared System REMS.’’ Received
comments will be placed in the docket
and, except for those submitted as
‘‘Confidential Submissions,’’ publicly
viewable at https://www.regulations.gov
or at the Dockets Management Staff
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
• Confidential Submissions—To
submit a comment with confidential
information that you do not wish to be
made publicly available, submit your
comments only as a written/paper
submission. You should submit two
copies total. One copy will include the
information you claim to be confidential
with a heading or cover note that states
‘‘THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.’’ The
Agency will review this copy, including
the claimed confidential information, in
its consideration of comments. The
second copy, which will have the
claimed confidential information
redacted/blacked out, will be available
for public viewing and posted on
https://www.regulations.gov. Submit
both copies to the Dockets Management
Staff. If you do not wish your name and
contact information to be made publicly
available, you can provide this
information on the cover sheet and not
in the body of your comments and you
must identify this information as
‘‘confidential.’’ Any information marked
as ‘‘confidential’’ will not be disclosed
except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20
and other applicable disclosure law. For
more information about FDA’s posting
of comments to public dockets, see 80
FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access
the information at: https://www.govinfo.
gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/
2015-23389.pdf.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or the
electronic and written/paper comments
received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov and insert the
docket number, found in brackets in the
heading of this document, into the
‘‘Search’’ box and follow the prompts
and/or go to the Dockets Management
Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061,
Rockville, MD 20852.
You may submit comments on any
guidance at any time (see 21 CFR
10.115(g)(5)).
Submit written requests for single
copies of the guidance to the Division of
Drug Information, Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, Food and
Drug Administration, 10001 New
Hampshire Ave., Hillandale Building,
4th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20993–
0002; or to the Office of
Communication, Outreach and
Development, Center for Biologics
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 54 (Thursday, March 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15785-15788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05869]
[[Page 15785]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of
Authority.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has reorganized
the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF). The
reorganization has no impact on existing delegations of authority. The
reorganization within the ACYF Office of the Commissioner amends the
functions of the Office of Management Services and creates the Office
of Budget. Within the Children's Bureau (CB), it creates the Division
of Performance Measurement and Improvement. It removes the Office of
Data Analysis, Research and Evaluation from the Office of the
Commissioner and transfers the functions to the Division of Performance
Measurement and Improvement. Within the Family and Youth Services
Bureau (FYSB), it renames the Division of Adolescent Development and
Support to the Division for Optimal Adolescent Development and elevates
the Runaway Homeless Youth office to the Division of Runaway and
Homeless Youth. It also creates the Division of Evaluation, Data and
Policy. Lastly, it renames the Division of Family Violence Prevention
to the Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Darling, Commissioner,
Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 330 C Street SW,
Washington, DC 20201, (202) 401-2761.
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 KB, Administration on Children, Youth and Families
(ACYF), as last amended in 76 FR 81505-81508, December 28, 2011.
I. 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, carries out the provisions of the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act, and manages adolescent pregnancy
prevention programs 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)
Office of Management Services (KBA1)
Office Of Budget (KBA2)
Children's Bureau (KBD)
Children's Bureau Regional Program Units (KBDDI-X)
Office of Child Abuse and Neglect (KBD1)
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 for Optimal Adolescent Development (KBE1)
Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services (KBE2)
Division of Evaluation, Data 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 Office of Management Services 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,
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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 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
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
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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, survivors of
domestic violence and their families to the Commissioner, ACYF. FYSB
supports the organizations and communities working to end youth
homelessness, youth at risk of trafficking and sexual exploitation,
adolescent pregnancy, and domestic violence 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 and legislation and develops program initiatives
for runaway and homeless youth, family violence prevention and services
(i.e., services addressing domestic violence, and dating violence and
to provide immediate shelter and supportive services for adult and
youth victims), adolescent pregnancy prevention, and trafficking
prevention services. 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 addressing and preventing family violence,
domestic violence, and dating violence and for implementing programs
for vulnerable youth, including runaway and homeless youth; 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. The Bureau represents HHS
on various councils, workgroups, and committees and provides leadership
and coordination to other HHS programs and agencies working to address
runaway and homeless youth, youth at risk of severe forms of
trafficking and sexual exploitation, domestic and dating violence
prevention and services, and adolescent pregnancy prevention. The
Bureau is comprised of four Divisions:
The Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services promotes
public awareness about family violence, domestic violence, and dating
violence. The Division also promotes awareness about the impact of
family violence, and effective prevention and intervention strategies
to address the problem. The Division's programs provide immediate
shelter and related assistance to victims of family violence and their
dependents; provide for research into the most effective methods of
family violence prevention, identification, and intervention; and
provide training and technical assistance to family violence and
domestic violence programs including states, tribes, local public
agencies (such as law enforcement agencies, courts, social service
agencies, child welfare programs, mental health and substance abuse
treatment programs, and health care providers), and non-profit
organizations. The Division 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
Division supports the development of services to address the needs of
children exposed to domestic violence and their abused parents. The
Division is responsible for developing, updating, and implementing
program regulations and policies. The Division oversees the receipt and
review of applications for grants and grantee activities. It also
provides guidance, review, support, and assistance to states, tribes,
discretionary grantees and sub awardees on HHS policies, regulations,
procedures, and systems necessary to ensure efficient program operation
at the state, territorial, and tribal levels. In addition, the Division
coordinates all programs for victims and potential victims of family
violence and their dependents.
The Division of Evaluation, Data and Policy provides leadership and
direction for FYSB, informing program and policy development and
innovation through evaluation strategies and data analysis for runaway
and homeless youth, youth at risk of severe forms of trafficking,
adolescent pregnancy prevention, and family violence prevention and
services. 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 (e.g., regression, ANOVA, predictive
modeling) to inform the policy and program priorities of FYSB programs.
It oversees FYSB's performance standards and performance measurement
process, evaluation strategies, program outcome development, and the
synthesis of data to inform and support innovation in the
implementation of each program and demonstration projects' best and
emerging practices. The Division provides leadership and direction in
policy development, responds to requests for policy clarification, and
analyzes the implementation of FYSB's authorizing legislations. The
Division provides recommendations to the Commissioner and Associate
Commissioner on strategic priorities, policy direction, and
programmatic improvements to address issues involving vulnerable youth
and their families, adolescent pregnancy prevention, and victims of
domestic violence. The Division also recommends legislative and
budgetary proposals, strategic partnerships, and identifies issue areas
for evaluation, research, and demonstration initiatives.
The Division for Optimal Adolescent Development administers an
array of adolescent pregnancy prevention projects to states, tribes,
and community-based organizations that provide education to youth on
how to prevent teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted
infections, including HIV/AIDS, and provides education on healthy
relationships and refraining from non-marital sexual activity. The
Division supports the inclusion of evidence-based, age-appropriate, and
medically accurate strategies and models that support the successful
transition of youth through adolescence and into adulthood with a
holistic approach to teaching the benefits of personal responsibility,
healthy decision-making, goal setting, and normalizing the optimal
behavior of avoiding non-marital sexual activity. There is a subset of
grant programs that test innovative approaches to adolescent pregnancy
prevention through rigorous evaluations conducted at local and national
levels. The collection of performance measurement data provides
information to support program improvement and to track program
outcomes. 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 develops the conceptual framework
for issues pertaining to adolescent
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pregnancy prevention, 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 that normalize the optimal behavior of
avoiding non-marital sexual activity.
The Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth serves as the national
leader for the provision of shelter and supportive services to
unaccompanied homeless youth and administers the runaway and homeless
youth program that incorporates the basic center, street outreach, and
transitional living programs. The Division also conducts development
and implementation of policy, guidelines, 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 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.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3101.
Dated: February 28, 2020.
Alex M. Azar II,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-05869 Filed 3-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
