[Federal Register: September 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 181)]
[Notices]
[Page 56226-56227]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20se04-72]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of
Authority
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 KC.00, Chapter KC.10, Chapter KC.20 Paragraph B, and
Chapter KC.20 Paragraph C, the Administration on Developmental
Disabilities (ADD) (69 FR 35378-79), as last amended June 24, 2004.
Chapters KC.00 and KC.20 Paragraph C are amended to replace outdated
references to University Affiliated Programs with references to the
current grant program, University Centers for Excellence in
Developmental Disabilities. Chapters KC.00 and KC.20 Paragraph B are
amended to more fully describe the grant programs that ADD will
administer under the Help America Vote Act. Chapter KC.20 Paragraph B
is also amended to delete outdated references to the Basic State Grants
program. Chapters KC.10 and KC.20 Paragraph C are amended to reflect
the new name of the Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants. This
notice reflects ADD's responsibilities in implementing election
assistance for individuals with disabilities under the Help America
Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), Pub. L. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666 (2002). The
authority to administer HAVA was delegated to the Assistant Secretary,
ACF, by the Secretary on February 9, 2004, and subsequently redelegated
to the Commissioner, Administration on Developmental Disabilities by
the Assistant Secretary, ACF, on April 2, 2004. In addition, it
establishes the Office of Programs and the Office of Operations and
Discretionary Grants, eliminates the Deputy Commissioner position, and
moves the Administration and Planning Staff and their functions to the
newly established Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants. This
notice is being republished in its entirety for the convenience of the
reader.
These Chapters are amended as follows:
1. Chapter KC, Administration on Developmental Disabilities
A. Delete KC.00 Mission in its entirety and replace with the
following:
KC.00 Mission. The Administration on Developmental Disabilities
advises the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Children and
Families, on matters relating to individuals with developmental
disabilities and their families. ADD serves as the focal point in the
Department to support and encourage the provision of quality services
to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. ADD
assists states, through the design and implementation of comprehensive
and continuing state plans, to increase the independence, productivity
and community inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities.
These state plans make optimal use of existing federal and state
resources for the provision of services and supports to these
individuals and their families to achieve these outcomes. ADD works
with the states to ensure that the rights of all individuals with
developmental disabilities are protected.
ADD administers two formula grant programs under the Developmental
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (the DD Act), the State
Councils on Developmental Disabilities and the Protection and Advocacy
Systems, and two discretionary grant programs, University Centers for
Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Projects of National
Significance grant programs, including family support grants. These
programs support the provision of services to individuals with
developmental disabilities and their families. In concert with other
components of ACF as well as other public, private, and voluntary
sector partners, ADD supports research, demonstration and evaluation
activities designed to improve and enrich the lives of individuals with
developmental disabilities. In addition, ADD serves as a resource in
the development of policies and programs to reduce or eliminate
barriers experienced by individuals with developmental disabilities
through the identification of promising practices and dissemination of
information. ADD manages initiatives involving the private and
voluntary sectors that benefit individuals with developmental and other
disabilities and their families.
ADD also manages and administers three grant programs authorized by
HAVA. Two are formula grant programs: State and Local Grants for
Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (EAID) to improve
access to polling places for individuals with disabilities, and Grants
to Protection and Advocacy Systems to ensure full participation in the
voting process for voters with disabilities. The third is a
discretionary grant program for training and technical assistance for
Protection
[[Page 56227]]
and Advocacy Systems under the HAVA election assistance provisions.
B. Delete KC.10 Organization in its entirety and replace with the
following:
KC.10 Organization. The Administration on Developmental
Disabilities is headed by a Commissioner who reports directly to the
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. The Administration on
Developmental Disabilities consists of:
The Office of the Commissioner (KCA).
The Office of Programs (KCB).
The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants (KCC).
C. Delete KC.20 Functions, paragraph A in its entirety and replace
with the following:
KC.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Commissioner serves as the
principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families,
the Secretary, and other elements of the Department for individuals
with developmental disabilities. The Office provides executive
direction and management strategy to ADD's components and establishes
goals and objectives for ADD programs.
In coordination with the ACF Office of Public Affairs, the Office
of the Commissioner develops a strategy for increasing public awareness
of the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and
programs designed to address them.
D. Delete KC.20 Functions, paragraph B in its entirety and replace
with the following:
B. The Office of Programs is responsible for the coordination,
management and evaluation of the State Councils on Developmental
Disabilities grant program and the Protection and Advocacy grant
program, including the development of procedures and performance
standards that ensure compliance with the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) and improve the outcomes of
State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and Protection and
Advocacy Systems in increasing the independence, productivity and
community inclusion of persons with developmental disabilities.
The Office of Programs also administers two formula grants under
the Help America Vote Act (State and Local Grants for Election
Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities and Grants to Protection
and Advocacy Systems) that improve accessibility for individuals with
the full range of disabilities, including the blind and visually
impaired, to polling places, including the path of travel, entrances,
exits and voting facilities. The Office also administers a training and
technical assistance grant program under the Help America Vote Act that
provides technical assistance to Protection and Advocacy Systems in
their mission to promote the full participation in the electoral
process for individuals with the full range of disabilities, including
registering to vote, casting vote, and accessing polling places.
The Office of Programs conducts routine and special analyses of
state plans of State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and
statements on the goals and objectives of State Protection and Advocacy
Systems, including an examination of priority area activities, to
assure consistent application of ADD program goals and objectives. The
Office conducts reviews of programs to ensure compliance with the DD
Act to improve program outcomes, and identifies and disseminates
information regarding promising practices to advance the independence,
productivity and community inclusion of people with developmental
disabilities.
The Office of Programs initiates, executes and supports the
development of interagency, intergovernmental and public-private sector
agreements, committees, task forces, commissions or joint-funding
efforts as appropriate.
The Office of Programs provides program and administrative guidance
to regional offices on matters related to the implementation of the
State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and Protection and
Advocacy Systems grant programs and ensures timely and effective
communication with the regional offices regarding program compliance,
policy clarification and the approval of required state plans and
reports.
E. Delete KC.20 Functions, paragraph C in its entirety and replace
with the following:
C. The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants plans,
coordinates and controls ADD policy, planning and management activities
which include the development of legislative proposals, regulations and
policy issuances for ADD. The Office manages the formulation and
execution of the program and operating budgets; provides
administrative, personnel and information systems support services;
serves as the ADD Executive Secretariat controlling the flow of
correspondence; and coordinates with appropriate ACF components in
implementing administrative requirements and procedures. The Office
also coordinates interagency collaboration and program outreach
activities.
The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants also manages the
discretionary grants and contracts mandated by the DD Act, and provides
program development services. The Office originates and manages cross-
cutting research, demonstration and evaluation initiatives with other
components of ADD, ACF, HHS and other government agencies; and monitors
and evaluates discretionary grants under the Projects of National
Significance discretionary grant program and the University Centers for
Excellence in Developmental Disabilities grant program.
The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants provides program
and administrative guidance to regional offices on matters related to
the implementation of the Projects of National Significance
discretionary grant program and the University Centers for Excellence
in Developmental Disabilities grant program.
The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants develops and
initiates guidelines, policy issuances and actions with team
participation by other components of ADD, ACF, HHS and other government
agencies to fulfill the mission and goals of the DD Act, as amended.
The Office ensures the dissemination of project results and information
produced by ADD grantees.
Through the Projects of National Significance discretionary grant
program, the Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants coordinates
information sharing and other activities related to national program
trends with other ACF programs and HHS agencies and studies, reviews
and analyzes other federal programs providing services applicable to
persons with developmental disabilities for the purpose of integrating
and coordinating program efforts.
Dated: September 13, 2004.
Wade F. Horn,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 04-21045 Filed 9-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P