81 FR 41308 - Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 122 (June 24, 2016)

Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of Authority. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has reorganized the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE). This reorganization creates a new Division of Data and Improvement. It will transfer the state systems assessment function and the project management and oversight for Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) from the Office of Administration, Office of Financial Services, to the new Division of Data and Improvement.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41308-41310]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14981]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for 
Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has 
reorganized the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE). 
This reorganization creates a new Division of Data and Improvement. It 
will transfer the state systems assessment function and the project 
management and oversight for Public Assistance Reporting Information 
System (PARIS) from the Office of Administration, Office of Financial 
Services, to the new Division of Data and Improvement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naomi Goldstein, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Planning, Research and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20201, 202-401-9220.
    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 KM, OPRE, as last amended 77 FR 47077-47078, August 
7, 2012.
    I. Under Chapter KM, OPRE, delete in its entirety and replace with 
the following:

    KM.00 MISSION. OPRE is the principal advisor to the Assistant 
Secretary for Children and Families on improving the effectiveness 
and efficiency of programs designed to make measurable improvements 
in the economic and social well-being of children and families. OPRE 
provides guidance, analysis, technical assistance, and oversight to 
ACF programs and across programs in the agency on: Strategic 
planning aimed at measurable results; performance measurement and 
management; research and evaluation methodologies; demonstration 
testing and model development; statistical policy and program 
analysis; synthesis and dissemination of research, evaluation, and 
demonstration findings; data quality, usefulness, and sharing; 
privacy; and application of emerging technologies to improve the 
effectiveness of programs and service delivery.
    OPRE, through the Division of Economic Independence, the 
Division of Child and Family Development, the Division of Family 
Strengthening, and the Division of Data and Improvement, oversees 
and manages the research and evaluation programs under sections 413, 
429, 511, 1110, and 2008 of the Social Security Act and section 649 
of the Head Start Act, as well as other research, evaluation, data, 
and improvement activities authorized by Congress and related to ACF 
programs and the populations they serve. These activities include: 
Priority setting and analysis; managing and coordinating major 
cross-cutting, leading-edge studies and special initiatives; and 
collaborating with federal partners, states, communities,

[[Page 41309]]

foundations, professional organizations, and others to promote the 
safety, well-being, and development of children, families, and 
communities; parental responsibility; employment; and economic 
independence.
    OPRE also provides coordination and leadership in implementing 
the Government Performance and Results Act Modernization Act and the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, and provides expert advice on matters 
related to privacy and the sharing of information. The office 
coordinates mandated OMB information collection approvals and plans 
and includes ACF's Reports Clearance Officer.

    KM.10 Organization. OPRE is headed by a Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, who reports to the Assistant Secretary for Children and 
Families. The Office is organized as follows:

Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary (KMA)
Division of Economic Independence (KMB)
Division of Child and Family Development (KMC)
Division of Family Strengthening (KMD)
Division of Data and Improvement (KME)

    KM.20 FUNCTIONS. A. The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
provides direction and executive leadership to OPRE in administering 
its responsibilities. It serves as principal advisor to the 
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families on all matters 
pertaining to: improving the effectiveness and efficiency of ACF 
programs; strategic planning; performance measurement and 
management; research, evaluation, statistical, and analysis methods; 
program and policy evaluation; research and demonstrations; state 
and local innovations and progress; synthesis and dissemination of 
research and evaluation findings; data quality, usefulness, and 
sharing; and application of emerging technologies to improve the 
effectiveness of programs and service delivery. It represents the 
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families at various planning, 
research, evaluation, data, and improvement forums and carries out 
special Departmental and Administration initiatives.
    The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary manages the 
formulation and execution of budgets for OPRE programs; manages 
correspondence; manages review of funding opportunity announcements 
within OPRE; coordinates the provision of staff development and 
training; provides support for OPRE's personnel administration, 
including staffing, employee and labor relations, performance 
management, and employee recognition; manages OPRE space, 
facilities, and supplies; and oversees travel, time and attendance, 
and other administrative functions for OPRE.
    B. The Division of Economic Independence, in cooperation with 
ACF income support programs and others, works with federal 
counterparts, states, community agencies, and the private sector to 
understand and overcome barriers to economic independence; promote 
parental responsibility; and assist in improving the effectiveness 
of programs that further economic independence. The Division 
provides guidance, analysis, technical assistance, and oversight in 
ACF on: Strategic planning and performance measurement for economic 
independence; statistical, policy, and program analysis; surveys, 
research, and evaluation methodologies; demonstration testing and 
model development; synthesis and dissemination of research and 
evaluation findings; and application of emerging technologies to 
programs that promote employment, parental responsibility, and 
economic independence.
    The Division develops policy-relevant research priorities; 
conducts, manages, and coordinates major cross-program, leading-edge 
research, demonstrations, and evaluation studies; manages and 
conducts statistical, policy, and program analyses on trends in 
employment, child support payments, and other income supports; and 
works in partnership with states, communities, and the private 
sector to promote employment, parental responsibility, and family 
economic independence. Division staff also provides consultation, 
coordination, direction, and support for research and evaluation 
activities related to employment, parental responsibility, and 
family economic independence across ACF programs.
    C. The Division of Child and Family Development, in cooperation 
with ACF programs and others, works with federal counterparts, 
states, community agencies, and the private sector to: Improve the 
effectiveness and efficiency of programs, and foster safety and 
sound growth and development of children and their families. The 
Division provides guidance, analysis, technical assistance, and 
oversight in ACF on: strategic planning and performance measurement 
for child and family development; statistical, policy, and program 
analysis; surveys, research and evaluation methodologies; 
demonstration testing and model development; synthesis and 
dissemination of research and evaluation findings; and application 
of emerging technologies to improve the effectiveness of programs 
and service delivery. The Division conducts, manages, and 
coordinates major cross-programs, leading-edge research, 
demonstration and evaluation studies; develops policy-relevant 
research priorities; and manages and conducts statistical, policy, 
and program analyses related to children and families. Division 
staff also provides consultation, coordination, direction, and 
support for research and evaluation activities related to children 
and families across ACF programs.
    D. The Division of Family Strengthening, in cooperation with ACF 
programs and others, works with federal counterparts, states, 
community agencies, and the private sector to: improve the 
effectiveness and efficiency of programs; foster the safety, 
positive growth and development of children, youth, parents, and 
vulnerable populations; and strengthen families.
    The Division provides guidance, analysis, technical assistance 
and oversight in ACF on: Parent, child, youth and family development 
and dynamics; child safety; statistical, policy and program 
analysis; surveys, research and evaluation methodologies; 
demonstration testing and model development; synthesis and 
dissemination of research and evaluation findings; and application 
of emerging technologies to improve the effectiveness of programs 
and service delivery.
    The Division conducts, manages, and coordinates major cross-
program, leading-edge research, demonstration, and evaluation 
studies; develops policy-relevant research priorities; and manages 
and conducts statistical, policy, and program analyses related to 
strengthening families. Division staff also provides consultation, 
coordination, direction and support for research and evaluation 
activities related to strengthening families across ACF programs.
    E. The Division of Data and Improvement, in cooperation with ACF 
programs and others, works with federal counterparts, states, 
community agencies, and the private sector to improve the 
effectiveness and efficiency of programs through improving the 
quality, usefulness, interoperability, and availability of data. 
Division staff provide guidance, analysis, technical assistance, and 
oversight on strategic planning and performance measurement; 
statistical, policy, and program analysis; continuous improvement; 
surveys, data collection, and analysis methodologies; application of 
data analyses to program operations and decision-making; application 
of emerging technologies to improve the effectiveness of programs 
and service delivery; privacy and data security; and data sharing. 
The Division conducts, manages, and coordinates major cross-program, 
leading-edge research, demonstration, and evaluation studies related 
to the quality, usefulness, interoperability, and availability of 
data; develops policy-relevant priorities for data collection and 
analysis; manages and conducts statistical, policy, and program 
analyses; provides consultation, coordination, direction, and 
support for research and evaluation activities related to the 
quality, usefulness, interoperability, and availability of data; 
coordinates and develops policies and procedures for reviewing 
Federal Financial Participation in the cost of automated systems 
development to support programs funded under the Social Security 
Act; coordinates and develops systems, policies, and procedures to 
support data exchange in support of program access and program 
integrity; coordinates and supports implementation of technologies, 
strategies, and policies related to systems integration and 
interoperability systems assessments, systems design and planning, 
data exchanges, information management, information security, and 
electronic information exchanges across federal, state, local, 
tribal, and private systems. It serves as the departmental focal 
point and coordinator for the development and implementation of 
strategies and policies related to payment integrity, welfare 
systems integration, electronic benefit transfer, and related 
initiatives and programs. The Division provides leadership and 
guidance to interagency work groups in these areas for the 
Department.

    II. Under Chapter KP, Office of Administration, Delete Paragraph C, 
and replace as follows:

    The Office of Financial Services (OFS) supports the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for

[[Page 41310]]

Administration in fulfilling ACF's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and 
Federal Manager's Financial (FMFIA) Management Control Officer 
responsibilities, including preparation of the CFO 5-Year Plan; 
performs audit oversight and liaison activities, including preparing 
reports to Congress, Office of the General Counsel, and the Office 
of the Inspector General. OFS writes/interprets financial policy and 
researches appropriation law issues; oversees and coordinates ACF's 
FMFIA activities; performs debt management functions; develops and 
administers quality assurance, training, and certification programs 
for grants management; and is responsible for the annual preparation 
and audit of ACF's financial statement requirements.
    The Office develops/interprets internal policies and procedures 
for ACF components and coordinates the management of ACF's 
interagency agreement activities. The Office provides agency-wide 
guidance to program and regional office staff on grant-related 
issues, including developing and interpreting financial and grants 
policy, coordinating strategic grants planning, facilitating policy 
advisory groups, and assuring consistent grant program 
announcements. The Office prepares, coordinates, and disseminates 
action transmittals, information memoranda, and other policy 
guidance on financial and grants management issues; provides 
financial and grants administration technical assistance to ACF 
staff; directs and/or coordinates management initiatives to improve 
financial administration of ACF mandatory and discretionary grant 
programs. OFS develops and administers grants management training 
for ACF program and grants staff and administers grants management 
certification for ACF grants staff.

    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.
    This reorganization will be effective upon date of signature.

    Dated: June 20, 2016.
Mark H. Greenberg,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 2016-14981 Filed 6-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-34-P