Government Documents - Department of Health & Human Services: Home

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the latest incarnation of a department that traces its roots back to the establishment of marine hospitals in 1798. In 1902, the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service was created, and in 1912 it became the Public Health Service (PHS). In 1939, PHS became part of the newly established Federal Security Agency (FSA). The FSA evolved into the cabinet-level Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1953. Under a 1979 regoranization, the DHHS came into existence. DHHS is responsible for protecting the health and welfare of all Americans.