<Li> Eric Hargan, Deputy Secretary </Li> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.hhs.gov </Td> </Tr> <P> The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), also known as the Health Department, is a cabinet - level department of the U.S. federal government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services . Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well - being of America". Before the separate federal Department of Education was created in 1979, it was called the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). </P> <P> The Federal Security Agency (FSA) was established on July 1, 1939, under the Reorganization Act of 1939, P.L. 76 - 19 . The objective was to bring together in one agency all federal programs in the fields of health, education, and social security . The first Federal Security Administrator was Paul V. McNutt . </P>

Acronym for department of health and human services