Region 8 - A Brief Look at What We Do

The Office of the Regional Director (ORD) is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective relationships with governors, mayors, county officials and other key state and local officials and to furnish advice and assistance while striving to develop a mutually beneficial Federal-State-Local partnership.

The ORD promotes and communicates a general public understanding of the programs, policies and objectives of the Health and Human Services (HHS) department.

The ORD serves as coordinator, facilitator, and expeditor in addressing issues and solving problems to assure effective, efficient and responsible actions both inside and outside the HHS department in the interest of total service to the American public.

The Regional Health Administrator represents the Assistant Secretary for Health/Surgeon General and serves as the focal point for leadership and coordination across the Department of Health and Human Services for population-based public health and preventive health services. Program consultants for Minority Health, Family Planning, Women's Health, Emergency Preparedness, and Immunization Outreach help coordinate activities across the federal public health agencies, States, and Tribes within Region VIII. The Family Planning program supports grantees within each State of Region VIII to implement and evaluate an effective family planning delivery system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention support an Immunization Outreach Coordinator who works with the State Immunization Programs and communities to encourage full-series, age-appropriate immunizations within all populations of the region. Emergency preparedness programs provide planning and response assistance to local and state health departments for health, medical, and health-related social service needs during major emergencies and federally declared disasters.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is responsible for federal programs which promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities.

In Region VIII, ACF staff work with states, tribes, local providers, and individuals to administer Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Child Support Enforcement, Head Start, Child Care, Child Welfare, Runaway and Homeless Youth, and Developmental Disabilities programs.

ACF Region VIII staff also consult with state staff and local providers on their systems and technology needs.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) is the Federal focal point and advocate agency for older persons and their concerns.

The AoA works closely with its network of State Units on Aging (SUA's), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA's), and Tribal organizations to plan, coordinate, and develop community-level systems of services designed to meet the unique needs of older persons and their caregivers.

The AoA awards funds for supportive in-home and community services to the State Units on Aging which are located in every state and territory. Additional funds are awarded to these state agencies for elder rights programs, including the nursing home ombudsman program, legal services, outreach, and elder abuse prevention efforts.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for enforcing laws which ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion and disability by recipients of Federal financial assistance from HHS. OCR has jurisdiction over health, welfare, social services programs, and state and local governments.

The OCR conducts investigations of complaints and conducts pre and post award compliance reviews.

The OCR provides technical assistance and outreach services.

The Program Support Center/Administrative Operations Service (AOS) provides an extensive range of administrative and technical services to customers in the Department of Health and Human Services, both at Headquarters and in the regions, and to customers throughout the Federal government. PSC/AOS is available to provide responsive, experienced and cost-effective support in:

• Acquisition Management

• Real Property Management

• Technical Support and Communications Management

• Health Supply Management
  

• Region 8 Contact Information
• HHS Regional Offices