11/03

KDX.10 Organization [68 FR 65291-65303, 11/19/03]. The Administration for Children and Families, Region X, Seattle Office is organized as follows:

Management Team (KDXA)
Service Delivery Teams (KDXE)
Support Teams (KDXF)

KDX.20 Functions. A. The Management Team [68 FR 65291-65303, 11/19/03] is headed by the Regional Administrator who reports to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families through the Director, Office of Regional Operations.  Also, the team has two Associate Regional Administrators who report directly to the Regional Administrator.  In addition to being a team member, the Regional Administrator is responsible for alerting the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families to problems and issues that may have significant regional or national impact. 

The Team provides executive leadership to state, county, city, and tribal governments, as well as public and private local grantees to ensure effective, efficient, results-oriented program and financial management.  ACF’s primary goal is to assist vulnerable and dependent children and families to achieve economic independence, stability, and self-reliance.  The Team partners with state, local, and tribal organizations to promote adherence to federal laws, regulations, policies and procedures governing the programs, and exercises all delegated authorities and responsibilities for oversight of the programs.  The Team takes action to approve certain state and tribal plans and submits recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families concerning plan disapproval.  The Team contributes to the development of national policy based on regional perspectives on all ACF programs.  It oversees ACF operations; manages ACF regional staff; coordinates activities across regional programs; and assures that goals and objectives are met and departmental and agency initiatives are carried out.

The Team represents ACF at the regional level in executive communications within ACF, the HHS Regional Director, other HHS operating divisions, other federal agencies, Tribal and Native American Organizations, and public or private local organizations representing children and families.

In order to ensure that agency goals are accomplished, the Management Team provides leadership to grantees through a staff organized in Service Delivery Teams.  ACF programs and functions are grouped within teams according to current ACF programs and/or initiatives.  Each team is charged with achieving measurable progress towards ACF goals through their work with state, local, and tribal grantees, the public, and other federal agencies and internally within the Department.  The regional team structure is designed to allow ACF to respond quickly in a dynamic and changing environment to achieve ACF and HHS goals.

B. The Service Delivery Teams (SDTs) [68 FR 65291-65303, 11/19/03] report directly to the Management Team. The SDTs are responsible for providing centralized management and technical administration of ACF formula, block, discretionary, and entitlement grants and programs to assist families achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency, and to promote safe, healthy, and permanent environments in which children can grow. The SDTs review and recommend approval or disapproval of state and tribal plans to the Management Team. SDTs recommend issuance of certain grant awards based on a review of project objectives, budget projections, and proposed funding levels.

The SDTs provide policy guidance to state, local, and tribal governments, and public and private organizations to foster consistent and uniform adherence to federal requirements governing formula, block, and entitlement programs. The SDTs provide technical assistance to states, grantees, and tribes to resolve identified problems; ensure that appropriate procedures and practices are adopted; develop and implement outcome-based performance measures; and to monitor the programs to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness.

The SDTs represent the Management Team in dealing with the ACF program offices on all program and policy matters under their jurisdiction. Alerts or early warnings are provided to the Management Team regarding problems or issues that may have significant implications for the programs.

C. The Support Teams [68 FR 65291-65303, 11/19/03] provide administrative and management support to the Regional Administrator and Management Team. Members of the Support Teams report directly to the Regional Administrator or a member of the Management Team. Functions within the Team include day-to-day operational management of regional administrative functions such as, budget, performance management, procurement, property management, employee relations, human resource development activities, planning and coordination, and office automation systems.

The Team includes experts in cash assistance and supportive services programs who serve as resources to all teams on issues which cross-cut the organization, such as legislative policy updates, partnership agreements, result measurements, policy guidance, and monitoring state systems projects for ACF programs.

Team members also provide leadership in regional financial management matters to the Service Delivery Teams and the Management Team, including reviewing cost estimates and reports for ACF grant programs, recommending funding levels, and performing systematic fiscal reviews. The Team approves grant awards based on a review of project objectives, budget projections, and approved funding plans. It provides funds accounting for discretionary grant programs. It establishes regional financial management priorities and reviews cost allocation plans.

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