Operating Divisions
On This Page:
- Administration on Children and Families (ACF)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Administration on Aging (AoA)
- 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 (NIH)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Administration on Children and Families (ACF)
The Administration for Children and Families promotes the economic and social well-being of children, youth, families and communities. ACF is increasingly called upon by international organizations and representatives from other countries to share their expertise on a broad array of human services issues including: adoption, foster care, child protection, child support, early childhood development, disabilities, youth development, social protection and disaster preparedness among others. The Office of Refugee Resettlement administers a number of programs of international importance including among others: social services to refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian Entrants, Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa holders, survivors of torture and foreign victims of human trafficking.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is dedicated to improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. The goal of AHRQ's research is to produce measurable improvements in American health care, gauged in terms of improved quality of life, patient outcomes, and lives saved. AHRQ routinely collaborates with international organizations to promote shared learning. AHRQ frequently hosts international officials, researchers, and delegations interested in learning about AHRQ's programs and in sharing their experiences.
Administration on Aging (AoA)
The mission of the Administration on Aging (AoA) is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective system of home and community-based services that helps elderly individuals maintain their health and independence in their homes and communities. As the federal focal point for older Americans and their caregivers, the AoA plays a vital role in information exchange with other countries on aging issues, and in collaborating with the Department's Office of Global Affairs, other Federal departments, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations to enhance aging programs and policies worldwide. AoA routinely hosts officials and delegations from around the world and assists in developing U.S. study tours for foreign officials interested in learning more about U.S. programs.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
In the course of investigating thousands of hazardous waste sites over 25 years, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has become a leading resource for toxicological information for toxicologists, researchers, public health officials, and clinicians around the world. The agency's Toxicological Profiles set the standard for reliable information about chemical contaminants. ATSDR's online resources, including its Case Studies in Environmental Medicine, advance continuing education about chemicals for clinicians and scientists around the world.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses its public health expertise to save lives and improve health around the world. CDC works with more than 160 countries to solve global health problems through science and collaboration, particularly through its long standing partnerships with Ministries of Health and multilateral organizations. CDC's Center for Global Health coordinates and manages the agency's global health programs to rapidly detect and effectively respond to global health challenges such as HIV, TB, malaria, vaccine-preventable diseases, emergency and refugee health, environmental disasters and poisonings, deficiencies in micronutrients, non-communicable diseases, injuries, and other health threats; to strengthen the health security of the U.S. by preventing the spread of global emerging diseases; and, to help build long-lasting public health systems in the poorest countries in the world helping their governments protect the health of their citizens. CDC has staff assigned internationally, working with other countries and with multilateral organizations to improve global health.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) operates National Health Insurance Programs, Medicare, Medicaid and the State Child Health Insurance Program in the United States. CMS routinely hosts official delegations from all over the world to learn primarily about Medicare, the Prospective Payment System, and Quality of Care regulations, programs and financial management, and participates in international meetings on healthcare reform and financing.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strategically engages with its regulatory counterparts and other relevant stakeholders, which are increasingly international, to enable the multiple cascading benefits that result from a safer, more effective, higher quality global supply of food and medical products. The FDA is working actively and corroboratively on a global scale, including establishing in-country presences in China, India, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, and southern Africa to regulate imported products. The FDA benefits from leveraging the activities and resources of trusted foreign counterpart regulatory authorities and multinational organizations.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for Americans who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable. While HRSA has limited authority for international work, HRSA is well-positioned to make key contributions that will enable U.S. global health programs to make a long-term shift toward country-led, sustainable programs, which operate in partnership with the U.S. HRSA has an array of technical skills and domestic experience in health systems strengthening and development, health care services in resource poor settings, and in health professions workforce training and development.
Indian Health Service (IHS)
The mission of the Indian Health Service, in partnership with American Indian and Alaska Native people, is to raise their physical, mental, social, and spiritual health to the highest level. As such, the focus of the work of IHS is necessarily domestic. However, IHS is frequently contacted by high level representatives from other countries with substantial indigenous populations to exchange information and learn from our programs. As an example, HHS has an ongoing relationship with Health Canada that seeks to raise the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives in the USA and First Nations and Inuit people in Canada by improving approaches to health issues, identifying and reinforcing promising best practices and sharing knowledge and learning experiences, with special attention to research on and response to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and suicide prevention.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The National Institutes of Health's (NIH) mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. Through its 27 Institutes and Centers, NIH supports and conducts global research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of diseases. It also promotes the acquisition and dissemination of medical knowledge to health professionals and the public throughout the world. Encouraging a greater focus on global health is a key theme of NIH leadership.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. In this regard, SAMHSA provides consultation and technical assistance to international agencies on behavioral health issues, particularly on effective services and interventions for under served and at-risk populations such as women and children experiencing psychological trauma. Given the significant role of mental and substance use disorders in both non-communicable and infectious diseases, SAMHSA also helps to advocate for an increased global focus on behavioral health.
