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11/04/02

Administration for Children and Families

Chapter KH

OFFICE OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE

KH.00 Mission [67 FR 67198, 11/04/02]. The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) advises the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, on matters relating to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, title IV-A of the Social Security Act. This program promotes temporary assistance and economic self-sufficiency for children and families. The Office provides leadership direction and technical guidance, with ACF Regional Offices, to the States, Tribes, and Territories on the TANF program, the Native Employment Works program, and the Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled program in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Office refocuses efforts to increase economic independence and productivity for families. It provides direction and guidance in the collection and dissemination of performance and other valuable data for these programs. The Office provides technical assistance to States, Territories, Indian Tribes, Native American organizations, localities and community groups, and assesses State, Territorial, and Tribal performance in administering these programs; reviews State and Tribal planning for administrative and operational improvements; and recommends actions to improve effectiveness.

KH.10 Organization. The Office of Family Assistance [67 FR 67198, 11/04/02] is headed by a Director, who reports to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. The Office is organized as follows:

Office of the Director (KHA)
Division of State TANF Policy (KHB)
Division of State and Territory TANF Management (KHC)
Division of Data Collection and Analysis (KHG)
Division of Tribal TANF Management (KHH)

KH.20 Functions A. The Office of the Director [67 FR 67198, 11/04/02] is directly responsible to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families for carrying out OFA's mission and providing direction, leadership, guidance and general supervision to the principal components of OFA. The Deputy Director assists the Director in carrying out the responsibilities of the office. The Chief Program Officer assists the Director, and OFA Divisions in program planning, coordination, and evaluation efforts, and providing leadership and direction in the planning and execution of initiatives designed to improve program and organizational performance. The Office provides public information services by responding to welfare reform inquiries from the public and private sectors from both domestic and international entities via written and electronic communication and monitors completion of correspondence assigned to OFA. This office also coordinates and organizes the printing and distribution of policy and guidance documents and responds to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

B. The Division of State TANF Policy [67 FR 67198, 11/04/02] provides direction and guidance in the nationwide administration of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs, under title IV-A of the Social Security Act and the Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled program in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The Division ensures compliance with Federal laws and regulations. The Division proposes and reviews legislation and implements national policy, develops regulations to implement new laws and prepares policy interpretations. The Division provides guidance and direction, analyzes, tracks and disseminates information on State progress in achieving work participation goals. The Division shapes and facilitates communication between Federal, State and local entities to coordinate cross-cutting welfare to work related policies. The Division collaborates with ACF and HHS components on related programs such as: Head Start, child care programs and programs related to child welfare. The Division develops State plan procedures and evaluates State TANF plans with internal and external collaboration to identify critical issues contained in the plans and amendments. It also prepares congressional materials, testimonies and speeches. The Division collaborates with and provides program guidance to the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) on litigation.

C. The Division of State and Territory TANF Management [67 FR 67198, 11/04/02] provides technical assistance to States, Territories, localities and community groups; assists in the assessment of State and Territorial performance in administering the TANF program and the Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled program in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; and recommends and promotes improvements in outcomes for clients. The Division develops and implements strategies to assist grantees in implementing and designing programs to meet TANF purposes. The Division develops and delivers technical assistance, focusing on innovative policy and program design approaches, to improve the well-being of children. The Division facilitates closer working relationships with State programs and program officials to help States improve their TANF programs. The Division promotes cross-program policy initiatives to self-sufficiency and family focused services. The Division collaborates with ACF and HHS components and other Federal agencies to deliver family-focused services. It promotes job development through agreements with other Federal agencies and corporations. The Division identifies best practices and shares information through conferences, publications and other means. The Division establishes strong working partnerships with States, Tribes and Territories to help them build management capacity and skills to improve the performance of the TANF programs. The Division compiles, analyzes, evaluates, and disseminates information on implementation and strategies in the TANF program and other related welfare programs in the United States, including information on pertinent statutes, regulations, program instructions and guidance. The Division serves as a catalyst to connect other relevant national, Federal, State and local organizations to operate more effectively, and to share resources and information relative to increasing the economic self-sufficiency of low-income families. The Division has responsibility for updating contracted Web sites to provide easy access; targeted and focused useful information; customer-friendly organization and search capabilities.

D. The Division of Data Collection and Analysis [67 FR 67198, 11/04/02] is responsible for all aspects of the collection, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of statistical and financial data on the TANF program and the Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled programs in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The Division develops regulations to implement data collection requirements; designs, develops, implements, and maintains systems for the collection and analysis of data including; participation rate information, recipient characteristics, financial and administrative data, State expenditures on families, work activities of non-custodial parents, transitional services, and data used in the assessment of State performance. The Division provides leadership and coordinates with other ACF and HHS offices and external organizations in the use of these data for policy and research purposes. The Division also develops and maintains statistical protocols and manuals for data collection purposes and provides technical assistance in the use of these materials.

E. The Division of Tribal TANF Management [67 FR 67198, 11/04/02] is responsible for assisting in implementation and coordination of ongoing consultation with tribal governments and, where appropriate, State and Federal agencies regarding issues relating to the TANF and the Native Employment Works program and related legislation. It is also responsible for development of regulations and guidelines for Tribal employment programs and for providing leadership, policy direction, technical assistance and coordination of Tribal services programs. The Division performs inter- and intra-agency liaison functions to promote family stability, economic security, responsibility and self-support for Native Americans. It is responsible for conducting program reviews to ensure compliance with the Act, regulations and policy directives. It is responsible for activities related to tribal data collection reporting requirements relating to the programs.

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