11/03

KD7.10 Organization [68 FR 65291-65303, 11/19/03]. The Administration for Children and Families, Region VII, Kansas City Office, is organized as follows:

Office of the Regional Administrator (KD7A)
Office of State and Tribal Operations (KD7E)
Office of Community Operations (KD7F)
Office of Program Support (KD7G)

KD7.20 Functions. A. The Regional Office [68 FR 65291-65303, 11/19/03] is headed by a Regional Administrator who reports to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families through the Director, Office of Regional Operations. In addition, the Office of the Regional Administrator has a Deputy Regional Administrator who reports to the Regional Administrator. The Office provides executive leadership and directives to state, county, city, territorial and tribal governments, as well as public and private local grantees to ensure effective and efficient program and financial management. It ensures that these entities conform to federal laws, regulations, policies and procedures governing the programs, and exercises all delegated authorities and responsibilities for oversight of the programs. The Office takes action to approve certain state plans and submits recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families concerning state plan disapproval. The Office contributes to the development of national policy based on regional perspectives on all ACF programs. It oversees ACF operations, the management of 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 Office alerts the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families to problems and issues that may have significant regional or national impact. The Office represents ACF at the regional level in executive communications within ACF, with the HHS Regional Director, other HHS operating divisions, other federal agencies, and public or private local organizations representing children and families.

Within the Office of the Regional Administrator, administrative staff assist the Regional Administrator and Deputy Regional Administrator in providing day-to-day support for regional administrative functions, including budget, performance management, procurement, property management, employee relations and human resource development activities.

B. The Office of State and Tribal Operations [68 FR 65291-65303, 11/19/03] is headed by a Director who reports to the Regional Administrator. The Office is responsible for providing centralized management, financial management services, and technical administration of ACF formula, block and entitlement programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Support Enforcement (CSE), Child Care, Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, Child Welfare, Child Abuse and Neglect and Developmental Disabilities. The Office provides policy guidance to state, county, city or town and tribal governments and public and private organizations to assure consistent and uniform adherence to federal requirements governing formula and entitlement programs. State plans are reviewed and recommendations concerning state plan approval or disapproval are made to the Regional Administrator. The Office provides technical assistance to entities responsible for administering these programs to resolve identified problems, ensures that appropriate procedures and practices are adopted, monitors the programs to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness and establishes regional financial management priorities and reviews cost allocation plans. The Office provides financial management services for ACF formula and entitlement grants in the region. The Office reviews cost estimates and reports for ACF entitlement and formula grant programs and recommends funding levels. The Office performs systematic fiscal reviews and makes recommendations to the Regional Administrator to approve, defer or disallow claims for federal financial participation in ACF formula and entitlement grant programs. As applicable, recommendations are made on the clearance and closure of audits of state programs. The Office represents the Regional Administrator in dealing with the ACF program offices on all program and financial policy matters under its jurisdiction. Alerts or early warnings are provided to the Regional Administrator regarding problems or issues that may have significant implications for the programs.

C. The Office of Community Operations [68 FR 65291-65303, 11/19/03] is headed by a Director who reports to the Regional Administrator. The Office is responsible for providing centralized management, financial management services, and technical administration of ACF discretionary grant programs such as Head Start and Youth Programs. The Office provides policy guidance to state, county, city or town and tribal governments and public and private organizations to assure consistent and uniform adherence to federal requirements. The Office provides technical assistance to entities responsible for administering these programs to ensure that appropriate procedures and practices are adopted, and monitors the programs to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness. The Office performs systematic fiscal reviews; and makes recommendations to the Regional Administrator to approve or disallow costs under ACF discretionary grant programs. The Office issues certain discretionary grant awards based on a review of project objectives, budget projections, and proposed funding levels. As applicable, recommendations are made on the clearance and closure of audits of grantee programs. The Office oversees the management and coordination of office automation systems in the region such as the Grants Application Budget Instrument (GABI) and the Grants Administration Tracking System (GATES) and monitors grantee systems projects such as Head Start Program Information Report and the Head Start Management Tracking System. The Office represents the Regional Administrator in dealing with ACF program offices on all program policy and financial matters under its jurisdiction. Alerts or early warnings are provided to the Regional Administrator regarding problems or issues that may have significant implications on the programs.

D. The Office of Program Support [68 FR 65291-65303, 11/19/03] is headed by a Director who reports to the Regional Administrator. The Grants Officer function is located in the office and is responsible for providing centralized financial management services for all programs administered by the Regional Office. The Office provides cost allocation and audit support to the Office of State and Tribal Operations and the Office of Community Operations. The Office conducts analyses of state developments related to ACF programs and assists with tracking progress of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) outcomes. The Office provides technical support to the Office of State and Tribal Operations and the Office of Community Operations on special projects and initiatives. The Office represents the Regional Administrator in dealing with ACF offices on all program and financial policy matters under its jurisdiction. Alerts or early warnings are provided to the Regional Administrator regarding problems or issues that may have significant implications for the programs.

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