Unaccompanied Children Office of the Ombuds (UCOO) Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority, 99875 [2024-29188]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
• Administration for Children and Families

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 99875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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