ACF NEWS
ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, February 7, 2000
Contact: Michael Kharfen, (202) 401-9215
FRANK FUENTES APPOINTED ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
Olivia A. Golden,
assistant secretary for children and families, today announced the appointment
of Frank Fuentes as associate commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement
(OCSE). As associate commissioner, Fuentes will provide executive leadership
in the management of the child support enforcement program.
The nation's child
support program is a joint federal, state and local partnership. At the
federal level, the Office of Child Support Enforcement provides direction,
policy, training technical assistance and funding to states. The program
has a caseload in excess of 19 million. In 1999 the program collected
$15.5 billion in support for children almost doubling the amount collected
in 1992. There are approximately 60,000 child support workers at all levels
of government.
"Frank Fuentes
brings an enormous and wide-range of skills and experience to his new
position," said Golden. "He has been successful at all levels
of national, state and local government social service programs. He is
an individual with the vision and energy necessary to continue our success
in this critical program for children."
In his most recent
position, Fuentes was the deputy associate commissioner, ACF Child Care
Bureau. In his five years at the Bureau, he oversaw and directed the administration
of the $3.1 billion Child Care and Development Fund which serves 1.5 million
children and their families. From 1989 to 1995, Fuentes was the director
of the Migrant Head Start Program. The program administered direct service
grants serving over 33,000 infant, toddler and pre-school children of
migrant farmworker families in 35 states. He was responsible as well for
implementing new policies related to quality and accountability in the
provision of Head Start services under the "HHS Secretary's Advisory
Committee on Head Start Quality and Expansion." Fuentes was also
the director, Program Support Division, Family and Youth Services Bureau,
HHS Administration for Children, Youth and Families. In that position
he administered the demonstration, research and evaluation activities
of the Bureau for a number of specialized programs serving young people.
"We are very
fortunate to have Frank Fuentes join us in the Office of Child Support
Enforcement," said David Gray Ross, OCSE commissioner. "Frank's
extensive experience in administering complex programs and his partnership
building skills will be superb additions to the nation's child support
program. He possesses a genuine and long-standing desire to help children."
Fuentes is the recipient
of numerous Honors and Awards during his HHS service. These include Special
Achievements Awards, Distinguished Services Awards, Exemplary Performance
Awards, a Department of the Army Certificate of Recognition and a Presidential
Award for Leadership. He is married. He has 6 children, including 1 adopted
child. He has also been a foster parent for 45 children.
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.