Governmental Links

Other Federal Agencies

National Library of Medicine

The world's largest medical library and creator of MEDLINE .

General Accounting Office

The General Accounting Office is the investigative arm of Congress. The GAO exists to support the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and accountability of the federal government for the American people. The GAO examines the use of public funds, evaluates federal programs and activities, and provides analyses, options, recommendations, and other assistance to help the Congress make effective oversight, policy, and funding decisions. In this context, the GAO works to continuously improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the federal government through financial audits, program reviews and evaluations, analyses, legal opinions, investigations, and other services. The GAO's activities are designed to ensure the executive branch's accountability to the Congress under the Constitution and the government's accountability to the American people. The GAO is dedicated to good government through its commitment to the core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

The AHRQ, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead agency charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of healthcare, reduce its cost, improve patient safety, decrease medical errors, and broaden access to essential services. The AHRQ sponsors and conducts research that provides evidence-based information on healthcare outcomes, quality, cost, use, and access. The information helps healthcare decision makers, patients and clinicians, health system leaders, and policymakers, make more informed decisions and improve the quality of healthcare services.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people, at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. The CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.

Administration for Children and Families

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. ACF programs aim to achieve the following: families and individuals empowered to increase their own economic independence and productivity; strong, healthy, supportive communities that have a positive impact on the quality of life and the development of children; partnerships with individuals, front-line service providers, communities, American Indian tribes, Native communities, states, and Congress that enable solutions which transcend traditional agency boundaries; services planned, reformed, and integrated to improve needed access; and a strong commitment to working with people with developmental disabilities, refugees, and migrants to address their needs, strengths, and abilities.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The Food and Drug Administration is one of the nation's oldest and most respected consumer protection agencies. The FDA's mission is to promote and protect the public health by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way, and monitoring products for continued safety after they are in use. Our work is a blending of law and science aimed at protecting consumers.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Begun as a one-room Laboratory of Hygiene in 1887, the National Institutes of Health today is one of the world's foremost medical research centers, and the Federal focal point for medical research in the U.S. The NIH is one of eight health agencies of the Public Health Services, which, in turn, is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Comprised of 27 separate components, mainly Institutes and Centers, NIH has 75 buildings on more than 300 acres in Bethesda, MD. From a total of about $300 in 1887, the NIH budget has grown to more than $20.3 billion in 2001.

Program Support Center (PSC)

The Program Support Center (PSC) is an Operating Division (OPDIV) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Our mission is to provide qualitative and responsive "support services" on a cost-effective, competitive, "service-for-fee" basis to HHS components and other Federal organizations and agencies.

Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry

The mission of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment.

Health Resources and Services Administration

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) directs national health programs that improve the nation's health by assuring equitable access to comprehensive, quality health care for all. The HRSA works to improve and extend life for people living with HIV/AIDS, provides primary health care to medically underserved people, serves women and children through State programs, and trains a health workforce that is both diverse and motivated to work in underserved communities. The Agency's accomplishments for the past fiscal year are detailed in the HRSA Annual Report 1999.

Indian Health Service

The Indian Health Service (I H S) is an agency within the U S Dept. of Health and Human Services and is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally recognized tribes grew out of the special government to government relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. This relationship, established in 1787, is based on Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, and has been given form and substance by numerous treaties, laws, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Orders.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration

SAMHSA is the federal agency charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illness.