Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans. It is comprised of the Office of the Secretary and 12 agencies. The Office of the Secretary provides leadership to the HHS agencies charged with keeping Americans healthy, ensuring they get the health care they need, and providing children, families, and seniors with the essential human services they depend on.

Of the 12 agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, the four that most significantly impact youth with disabilities are:

1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
2. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) ,
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) , and
4. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) .

The 12 agencies within Health & Human Services are:

• ACF - Administration for Children & Families
  ACF provides funding and support to state, territory, local, and tribal organizations to provide family assistance (welfare), child support, child care, Head Start, child welfare, and other programs relating to children and families.

• AoA - Administration on Aging
  The mission of AoA is to help elderly individuals maintain their dignity and independence in their homes and communities through comprehensive, coordinated, and cost effective systems of long-term care, and livable communities across the U.S.

• AHRQ - Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality
  AHRQ is the lead agency charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, reduce its cost, improve patient safety, address medical errors, and broaden access to essential services.
• ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry
  Serves the public through responsive public health actions to promote healthy and safe environments and prevent harmful exposures. ATSDR is directed by congressional mandate to perform specific functions concerning the effect on public health of hazardous substances in the environment.

• CDC - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
  The CDC is dedicated to protecting health and promoting quality of life through the prevention and control of disease, injury, and disability. It provides programs that reduce the health and economic consequences of the leading causes of death and disability.

• CMS - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  CMS administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs, among others, which provide health care to numerous Americans.

• FDA - Food & Drug Administration
  The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health, advancing the public health, and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

• HRSA - Health Resources & Services Administration
  HRSA is charged with increasing access to health care for those who are medically underserved. HRSA's programs are designed to increase access to care, improve quality, and safeguard the health and well-being of the most vulnerable populations.

• IHS - Indian Health Service
  IHS is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives and provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 562 federally recognized tribes.

• NIH - National Institutes of Health
  NIH is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research. NIH provides leadership and financial support to researchers in every state and throughout the world.

• OIG - Office of Inspector General
  OIG has a responsibility to report both to the Secretary and to the Congress program and management problems and recommendations to correct them. OIG's duties are carried out through a nationwide network of audits, investigations, evaluations and other mission-related functions performed by OIG components.

• SAMHSA - Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
  SAMHSA focuses on building resilience and facilitating recovery for people with or at risk for mental or substance use disorders.