FY 2020 Annual Performance Plan and Report - Overview

Topics on this page: Mission Statement | HHS Organizational Structure

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services.  Operating Divisions (OpDivs), including agencies in the United States Public Health Service and human service agencies, administer HHS programs.  Staff Divisions (StaffDivs) provide leadership, direction, and policy and management guidance to the Department. 

Through its programming and other activities, HHS works closely with state, local, and U.S. territorial governments.  The Federal Government has a unique legal and political government-to-government relationship with tribal governments and provides health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives consistent with this special relationship.  HHS works with tribal governments, urban Indian organizations, and other tribal organizations to facilitate greater consultation and coordination between state and tribal governments on health and human services.

HHS also has strong partnerships with the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.  The Department works with regulated industries, academic institutions, trade organizations, and advocacy groups to leverage resources from organizations and individuals with shared interests.  By collaborating, HHS accomplishes its mission in ways that are the least burdensome and most beneficial to the American public.  Private sector grantees, such as academic institutions and faith-based and neighborhood partnerships, provide HHS-funded services at the local level.  In addition, HHS works closely with other federal departments and international partners to coordinate efforts and ensure the maximum benefit for the public.

Mission Statement

The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.

HHS Organizational Structure

The Department includes 11 OpDivs that administer HHS programs:

• Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
• Administration for Community Living (ACL)
• Agency for Healthcare Research (AHRQ)¹
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Indian Health Service (IHS)
• National Institutes of Health and (NIH)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

In addition, 14 StaffDivs and the Immediate Office of the Secretary (IOS) coordinate Department operations and provide guidance to the operating divisions:

• Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA)
• Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR)
• Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH)
• Assistant Secretary for Legislation (ASL)
• Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
• Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
• Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)
• Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
• Departmental Appeals Board (DAB)
• Office of the General Counsel (OGC)
• Office of Global Affairs (OGA)
• Office of Inspector General (OIG)
• Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA)
• Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)

The HHS organizational chart is available at https://www.hhs.gov/about/orgchart/.