AFI Dear Colleague Letter Office of Community Services Restructuring

Publication Date: September 27, 2016
Current as of:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Community Services
Division of Community Discretionary and Demonstration Programs
330 C Street, SW, 5th Floor
Mail Room 5425
Washington, D.C. 20201

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/programs/afi

Assets for Independence (AFI) Program
Dear Colleague Letter

Re: Office of Community Services Restructuring

Date: September 27, 2016

Dear Colleagues:

The Office of Community Services (OCS) is responsible for administering programs that provide essential services and support to individuals and families with low-incomes and the communities in which they live. To meet this responsibility and provide high quality services to states, territories, tribes, and discretionary grantees, it is critical that the management and administration of OCS programs are always improving. The expectations and work load of OCS programs have changed over time and a different structure is needed to maintain the integrity and impact of our programs. More specifically, both the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) have undergone significant changes in volume of oversight and complexity in the last several years. Additionally, since 2009, the Director of the Division of Community Discretionary Programs (DCDP) has served as the Acting Director of the Division of Community Demonstration Programs (DCDEP).

To ensure efficient and effective management of OCS programs, the Office of the Director (OD) requested and received approval from the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to restructure OCS Divisions. Per this approval, OCS will separate the Division of State Assistance (DSA) into two divisions, the Division of Community Assistance (DCA) and the Division of Social Services (DSS). Under this structure DCA will be responsible for the CSBG and DSS will be responsible for SSBG. OCS also received approval to consolidate the DCDP and DCDEP into one division, the Division of Community Discretionary and Demonstration Programs (DCDDP). Under this structure DCDDP will be responsible for the Assets for Independence (AFI), Community Economic Development (CED), and Rural Community Development (RCD) programs. Lynda E. Perez will continue to provide leadership for these programs under the new title of DCDDP Director.

This administrative change, effective October 1, 2016, will have little impact on AFI grantees. There are no anticipated changes to the AFI Program Specialist assignments or contact information. OCS will continue to strive to provide excellent customer service to every grantee.

________/s/_________
Lynda E. Perez
Acting Director
Division of Community Demonstration Programs
________/s/_________
Jeannie L. Chaffin
Director
Office of Community Services

 

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