Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services in the United States

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Agencies and Services

Introduction to Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services

The department has 11 major divisions, comprising 3 agencies that provide human services and 8 public health agencies. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) administers services that promote the economic and social well-being of children, families, and communities. The actual services are run by state and local organization; the ACF provides funding, information, and policy guidelines. Among the services it funds are Head Start, a program for preschool children; programs to prevent child abuse and domestic violence; and child support enforcement.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services operates Medicare and the federal portion of Medicaid, programs that fund medical care for the aged and the needy, respectively. Together these programs serve about one-fourth of Americans (see Medicare and Medicaid). The Administration on Aging administers grants for state and local programs that serve older Americans and help them remain independent. Such programs include meals on wheels, transportation, and at-home services.

HHS has eight public health divisions, which serve to protect the physical and mental health of the population. Two of the most important are the Food and Drug Administration, which checks the safety of foods, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices; and the National Institutes of Health, which conducts and supports health research at various institutes and centers. The other HHS public health divisions are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Indian Health Administration, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. The Surgeon General, America’s chief health educator, also has his office in the Department of Health and Human Services. The Social Security Administration was part of HHS until 1995, when it became an independent government agency.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services

In this Section

Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy

(including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.