Department+of+Health+and+Human+Services

= = Department of Health and Human Services

Secretary of Health and Human Services:
Kathleen Sebelius

Goals of Department of Health and Human Services:
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. HHS works closely with state and local governments, and many HHS-funded services are provided at the local level by state or county agencies, or through private sector grantees. Some programs include:


 * Health and social science research
 * Preventing disease, including immunization services
 * Assuring food and drug safety
 * Medicare (health insurance for elderly and disabled Americans) and Medicaid (health insurance for low-income people)
 * Financial assistance and services for low-income families
 * Head Start (pre-school education and services)
 * Preventing child abuse and domestic violence
 * Substance abuse treatment and prevention
 * Services for older Americans, including home-delivered meals

History of the Department of Health and Human Services:
The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services in 1979 when its education fucnction were transferred to the newly created United States Department of Education under the Department of Education Organization Act. HHS was left in charge of the Social Security Administration, agencies constituting the Public Health Service, and Family Support Administration. In 1995 Social Security was removed from the Department of Health and Human Services and established as an independent agency. The United States Public Health Service is the main division of the HHS and is led by the Assistant Secretary for Health. Kathleen Sebelius is the current Secretary of Health and Human Services.