[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81280-81282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32462]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Head Start; Statement of Organization, Functions, and
Delegations of Authority
AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of
Authority. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has
reorganized the Office of Head Start (OHS). This reorganization creates
the Grants and Contracts Division and the State Initiatives Division.
It renames the Educational Development and Partnership Division,
titling it the Education and Comprehensive Services Division. It also
renames the Immediate Office of Head Start, the Office of the Director.
Additionally, it renames the Policy and Budget Division, the Policy and
Planning Division.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvette Sanchez-Fuentes, Office of the
Director, Office of Head Start, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC 20024, 202-205-8573.
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 KU, Office of Head Start (OHS), as last amended 71 FR
59117-59123, October 6, 2006.
I. Under Chapter, KU, Office of Head Start, delete KU in its
entirety and replace with the following:
KU.00 MISSION. The Office of Head Start (OHS) advises the Assistant
Secretary for Children and Families on issues regarding the Head Start
program (including Early Head Start). OHS develops legislative and
budgetary proposals; identifies areas for research, demonstration and
developmental activities; presents operational planning objectives and
initiatives relating to Head Start and Early Head Start to the
Assistant Secretary; and oversees the progress of approved activities.
It provides leadership and coordination for the activities of the Head
Start program in the ACF Central Office including the Head Start
Regional Program Units. OHS represents Head Start in inter-agency
activities with other Federal and non-Federal organizations.
KU.10 ORGANIZATION. OHS is headed by a director who reports
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directly to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. OHS is
organized as follows:
Office of the Director (KUA)
Program Operations Division (KUB)
Head Start Regional Program Units (KUBDI-XII)
Education and Comprehensive Services Division (KUC)
Quality Assurance Division (KUE)
Policy and Planning Division (KUF)
Grants and Contracts Division (KUG)
State Initiatives Division (KUH)
KU.20 FUNCTIONS. A. Office of the Director (KUA): The Office of the
Director (OD) serves as the principal advisor to the Assistant
Secretary for Children and Families, the Secretary, and other officials
of the Department on the administration of discretionary grant programs
providing Head Start Services. The Director provides the direction for
OHS based on ACF's and HHS' goals and objectives.
The Deputy Director reports to and assists the Director in carrying
out the responsibilities of OHS and performs the duties of the Director
when absent. The Deputy Director supervises all six Division Directors
in addition to the Budget, Administrative, and Information Systems
Teams. The divisions are as follows: Program Operations Division,
Education and Comprehensive Services Division, Quality Assurance
Division, Policy and Planning Division, Grants and Contracts Division,
and State Initiatives Division.
The Administrative Team provides support to OHS, including: (a)
Serving as the focal point for operational and long-range planning; (b)
functioning as Executive Secretariat for OHS, including managing
correspondence, correspondence systems, and electronic mail requests;
(c) providing management and administrative services and advice, by
coordinating human resources activities, and (d) as appropriate,
developing policy and procedures relating to these activities.
The Budget Team (a) Provides leadership in the development of the
budget while ensuring consistency with ACF's and the Department's
vision and goals, (b) is responsible for budget development and
execution, and (c) serves as the primary contact for ACF on all budget
development and execution activities related to Head Start. The
Information Systems Team (IST) provides support to OHS in providing
centralized information systems policy, procedures, standards, and
guidelines. IST also provides support through: (a) The oversight of
information resources management (IRM) systems, including the Early
Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center and Head Start Enterprise
System; (b) directing and coordinating OHS' Privacy Act
responsibilities; (c) directing and maintaining OHS electronic records
and forms management programs; (d) developing long-range IRM plans; (e)
developing policies, procurement plans, and budgets for OHS information
systems; and (f) serving as the information services liaison to ACF and
other agencies to coordinate e-government strategies and policies.
B. Program Operations Division (KUB): The Program Operations
Division (POD) advises the OHS Director on all strategic and
operational activities related to implementation of the agency's
programs in the 12 regions. POD is responsible for the Head Start
regional programs administered by the Head Start Regional Program Units
which include Region XI, the American Indian and Alaska Native Head
Start, and Region XII, the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start.
--Head Start Regional Program Units (KUBDI-XII): The Head Start
Regional Program Units are each headed by a Regional Program Manager
(RPM) who reports to the Director of the Program Operations Division.
The RPM, through subordinate regional staff, in collaboration with
program components, is responsible for: (1) Providing program and
technical administration of ACF discretionary programs related OHS; (2)
collaborating with OHS States Collaboration Projects on all significant
policy matters; (3) providing technical assistance to entities
responsible for administering OHS programs to resolve identified
problems; (4) ensuring that appropriate procedures and practices are
adopted; (5) working with appropriate State, local, and tribal
officials to develop and implement outcome-based performance measures;
and (6) monitoring the programs to ensure their efficiency and
effectiveness, and ensuring that these entities conform to Federal
laws, regulations, policies, and procedures governing the programs. The
Head Start Regional Program Unit serves agencies that provide services
to the children and families throughout the United States. The Regional
Program Unit (a) guides the day-to-day management of Head Start
programs in its jurisdictions; (b) provides technical assistance,
resources, and information to the various entities responsible for
administering these programs; (c) designates and provides oversight for
interim grantees; and (d) represents Head Start to state, county, city,
and Tribal governments; grantees; and public and private organizations.
Regions I through X are located in the ACF geographical regions. Region
XI, American Indian and Alaskan Native Head Start, serves agencies that
provide services to the children and families of American Indian and
Alaskan Natives. Migrant and Seasonal Head Start is represented by
Region XII and serves agencies that provide services to the children
and families of migrant and seasonal workers. Regions XI and XII are
located in the OHS central office.
C. Education and Comprehensive Services Division (KUC): The
Education and Comprehensive Services Division (ECSD) develops and
coordinates the content and direction of Head Start program components
and provides leadership to improve classroom practice, family
engagement and involvement, health and disabilities services and
cultural and linguistic responsiveness. The ECSD (1) recommends and
establishes policy in the content areas; (2) recommends strategies for
achieving quality services; (3) develops regulation, guidance, and
other policy materials aimed at improving grantee performance in the
content areas; (4) develops areas for research and demonstration
activities to improve the quality and levels of services provided to
Head Start children; (5) manages discretionary projects; and (6)
develops training and technical assistance strategies to improve Head
Start programs' performance in specific component areas which include
integrated content; health, nutrition, dental, and mental health;
parent, family, and community engagement; and quality teaching and
learning.
D. Quality Assurance Division (KUE): The Quality Assurance Division
(QAD) (1) oversees all major planning and implementation activities to
determine Head Start and Early Head Start programs' compliance with all
applicable requirements and regulations; (2) conducts data analyses on
monitoring outcomes to inform training and technical assistance efforts
and policy and guidance development; (3) serves as the liaison to the
Office of Inspector General (OIG) for targeted OIG's audits; (4)
oversees special agency initiatives such as the erroneous payment
study; and (5) manages the OHS Complaint Line.
E. Policy and Planning Division (KUF): The Policy and Planning
Division (PPD) provides support and guidance in all matters related to
defining and setting policy for the OHS that will affect local Head
Start programs and the early childhood community at-large. The Division
will strengthen guidance and vision to the
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early childhood community, formulate the OHS strategic plans and long-
term goals, provide guidance and support with budget planning, oversee
development of regulations and other policy issuances, and serve as
liaison with ACF and HHS legislative offices on all Congressional
matters relating to Head Start.
F. Grants and Contracts Division (KUG): The Grants and Contracts
Division (GCD) (1) Oversees matters related to competitive funding
opportunities; (2) manages competition, paneling, and selection of
national contracts and Head Start and Early Head Start replacement
grantees; (3) provides ongoing fiscal oversight of national contracts;
(4) serves as the lead for the OHS Program Management and Fiscal
Operations Center; and (5) serves as the liaison to the Office of
Administration, Divisions of Grants Management and Division of Grants
Policy.
G. State Initiatives Division (KUH): The State Initiatives Division
(SID) leads and consolidates collaboration efforts to new and expanding
Head Start programs. The Division will promote collaborations with
state pre-k programs, local child care providers and other national and
state early childhood efforts to ensure the sustainability of strong
collaborations. The Division serves as the locus for ensuring that
mandates in the Head Start Act regarding collaboration are implemented
as well as coordination with the U.S. Department of Education and state
early childhood entities. The Division will focus on State Advisory
Councils, Centers of Excellence, State Collaboration Offices, and the
Training and Technical Assistance System.
II. Continuation of Policy. Except as inconsistent with this
reorganization, all statements of policy and interpretations with
respect to organizational components affected by this notice within
ACF, heretofore issued and in effect on this date of this
reorganization are continued in full force and effect.
III. Delegation of Authority. All delegations and redelegations of
authority made to officials and employees of affected organizational
components will continue in them or their successors pending further
redelegations, provided they are consistent with this reorganization.
IV. Funds, Personnel, and Equipment. Transfer of organizations and
functions affected by this reorganization shall be accompanied in each
instance by direct and support funds, positions, personnel, records,
equipment, supplies, and other resources.
This reorganization will be effective upon date of signature.
Dated: December 16, 2010.
David A. Hansell,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 2010-32462 Filed 12-23-10; 8:45 am]
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