US Department of Health and Human Services · Washington, DC United States

Swine flu prep to disaster response, Health and Human Services (HHS) takes care of people and their health. The agency's 300-plus programs cover everything from immunizations and food safety to Medicare and emergency preparedness. It also provides services for low-income families, Head Start (pre-school), domestic violence and child abuse prevention, and substance abuse treatment and prevention. HHS uses about a quarter of all federal funds; its 2010 budget is $879 billion. Its agencies include National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control. Though its roots go back to 1798, HHS was officially created in 1953 by President Dwight Eisenhower. To read the full description, subscribe now.