OCS Functional Statement

Administration for Children and Families

Chapter KG

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES

67 FR 67198, 11/04/02

62 FR 8743-44, 02/26/97

KG.00 Mission
KG.10 Organization
KG.20 Functions

KG.00 Mission [67 FR 67198, 11/04/02]. The Office of Community Services (OCS) advises the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, on matters relating to community programs to promote economic self-sufficiency. The Office is responsible for administering programs that serve low-income and needy individuals and address the overall goal of personal responsibility and achieving and maintaining self-sufficiency. The Office administers the Community Services Block Grant, Social Services Block Grant, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Block Grant programs. The Office also administers the Family Violence Program. It administers a variety of discretionary grant programs that foster family stability, economic security, responsibility and self-support, promote and provide services to homeless and low-income individuals, and develop new and innovative approaches to reduce welfare dependency.

KG.10 Organization [67 FR 67198, 11/04/02]. The Office of Community Services is headed by a Director who reports directly to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families and consists of:

Office of the Director (KGA)
Division of State Assistance (KGB)
Division of Community Discretionary Programs (KGC)
Division of Community Demonstration Programs (KGD)
Division of Energy Assistance (KGE)

KG.20 Functions. A. Office of the Director [62 FR 8743-44, 02/26/97] provides executive direction and leadership to the Office of Community Services (OCS) and coordinates all elements of the Office. The Deputy Director assists the Director in carrying out the responsibilities of the Office. Within the Office, administrative staff assist the Director in managing the formulation and execution of program and salaries and expenses budgets, and in providing administrative, personnel and data processing support services.

B. Division of State Assistance [62 FR 8743-44, 02/26/97] administers the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), and the Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program (EHP). The Division also administers the Family Violence Program. It is responsible for developing, updating and implementing regulations and policies for these programs. It provides guidance, review, support and assistance to states and grantees on HHS policies, regulations, procedures and systems necessary to assure efficient program operation at the state, territorial and tribal levels.

The Division is responsible for assessing compliance with the provisions of the CSBG and SSBG programs, reviewing and resolving formal complaints, reviewing and recommending approval or disapproval of waiver requests, and evaluating activities in the programs, as appropriate.

C. Division of Community Discretionary Programs [62 FR 8743-44, 02/26/97] administers a variety of discretionary grant programs that foster family stability, economic security, responsibility and self-support, and promote and provide services to low-income individuals. These programs are administered either through grants, contracts or jointly financed cooperative arrangements. Assistance may be provided to states, public and private non-profit organizations and community agencies to provide technical assistance, training and on-going services and activities of national, regional or state-wide significance. Assistance may also be provided to private, locally-initiated, non-profit community development corporations (or affiliates of such corporations). This assistance may be provided to address a variety of areas of interest, such as rural housing and community facilities, assistance to migrants and seasonal farm workers, recreational and educational activities for low-income youth, community food and nutrition, support programs for homeless individuals, job creation, and business development opportunities. The Division also administers continued-use-of-assets agreements between OCS and Community Development Corporations (CDCs).

D. Division of Community Demonstration Programs [62 FR 8743-44, 02/26/97] administers a variety of demonstration programs that develop new and innovative approaches to deal with the critical needs of the poor which are common to many communities, reduce welfare dependency, and create business and employment opportunities. These programs are administered either through grants, contracts or jointly financed cooperative arrangements. In coordination with the Office of Policy and Evaluation (OPE), the Division oversees and monitors these demonstration programs; evaluates projects for their effectiveness in order to replicate those which are most successful; and prepares reports on significant findings.

E. Division of Energy Assistance [62 FR 8743-44, 02/26/97] administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) at the federal level. It develops guidelines, policies and regulations to provide direction to states, territories, Indian tribes and tribal organizations in administering LIHEAP. The Division calculates state allotments and develops statistical information regarding state plan characteristics, energy consumption, state median income estimates, fuel costs, and housing and demographic characteristics. It prepares, analyzes and recommends specific proposals for new legislation; prepares reports as required by Congress; and identifies and develops research and evaluation priorities and assesses the impact of research and evaluation findings and statistical data in terms of program directions.

The Division provides leadership in interpretation and application of federal program policy as it relates to compliance activities in the LIHEAP program. The Division reviews grantee applications and amendments; provides the ACF Office of Financial Management with information necessary to issue grants; and investigates complaints. It provides assistance to states, tribes and territories in developing energy program policies and operational procedures; evaluates compliance of state and tribal policies and operations with statutory and regulatory requirements; and provides support in developing and implementing program improvements. The Division assists states and other public and private organizations by providing training and technical assistance in areas related to home energy consumption.

As of November 2002