About ACYF

Office Overview: Major Functions

The Administration on Children, Youth & Families (ACYF) sets priorities, vision, and oversight for the Children’s Bureau and the Family and Youth Services Bureau, including:

• Prevention and preservation
• Engagement, collaboration, and connections
• Partnering and shared accountability
• Equity and well-being

ACYF programs provide policy guidance and financial assistance to tribes, territories, and states, as well as grantee community-based organizations and academic institutions, to provide services to children, youth and families. These resources carry out research and demonstration activities, manage learning opportunities and training, provide technical assistance, data, analytics and compliance reviews, peer to peer learning, and disseminate information.

The Bureaus of ACYF work to achieve their mission through the following major activities:

• Providing program guidance on federal law, policy, and regulations
• Funding essential services, helping states and tribes operate every aspect of their service delivery systems
• Supporting social service innovation through peer-reviewed research and program development grants
• Providing training and technical assistance to improve service delivery
• Collaborating with states, territories, and tribes to improve service and achieve optimal outcomes for children and families
• Sharing research with children, youth, and family professionals to assist in the improvement of services.

Explore the ACYF bureau pages:

• Children's Bureau
• Family & Youth Services Bureau

Organizational Design and Leadership

ACYF is divided into Children's Bureau and Family & Youth Services Bureau. These bureaus responsible for different issues involving children, youth and families and a crosscutting unit charged with research and evaluation. Each bureau has an associate commissioner appointed by the President. 

In addition, the United States and its territories are divided into 10 regions, each having an office responsible for ACYF programs located in that region.

ACYF's senior leadership role is nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. 

The Office of the ACYF Commissioner is comprised of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Senior Advisor, Special Assistant, Executive Assistant, Executive Officer, and Budget Officer, and accompanying management and budget analysts.  As a team, they provide the administrative (including Human Resources), budget, organizational and staff development, and program policy support for CB and FYSB. CB and FYSB Associate Commissioners report to the ACYF Commissioner and intentionally collaborate to achieve ACYF goals. See CB and FYSB Office Overviews for details on bureau organizational structure.