The United States Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) is geared towards enhancing and protecting the health and wellbeing of all citizens of America. The HHS website has a major role of providing effective health and human services through fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services that are useful to the general public and policy making organs. The website provides information on the secretary of HHS particularly the 23 rd secretary who was sworn in on February 10, 2017. The secretary provides immense service to health care both as a policy maker and a physician. Information on the HHS agencies and offices is also comprehensively covered on the website. There are 11 operating divisions in HHS comprising of eight agencies in the public health service and three in human service agencies. These divisions serve various roles including administration of a variety of health and human services, conducting life-saving research and protecting the interests of all Americans.
In terms of implications for social work, the website has a news segment where latest news releases are posted concerning HHS and the general health of the United States’ citizens. The website also leaves contact information to any citizen who wishes to make an inquiry, comment or compliment. The site is easy to use as information is properly arranged and there is a search area where information can be accessed easily. The website is useful to the American population, health organizations, and stakeholders, the government among others who play a critical role in promoting the quality of life. The American population can benefit immensely from the website through empowerment because there is a site for job and career opportunities. The citizen can also find the site on ‘temporary assistance for needy families’ important in helping solve their problems. Patients can also benefit directly through the empowerment of people with disability program in the website. Healthcare stakeholders are the biggest beneficiaries of this website because of the many agencies whose information is shared in the website. These agencies are crucial in making decisions that impact on the health of the American people. Also, students can benefit through the ‘head start school readiness program.’
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The agency of Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is mandated with the duty to oversee the economic and social well-being of families, children, and individuals through carrying out education and support programs. The Administration for Community Living is tasked with the duty of increasing access to community support and various resources that will cater for the needs of the aged Americans and people with disabilities. The Healthcare Research and Quality Agency has a mission to provide evidence that is geared towards making health care safer, increasing its quality, making it accessible, equitable and affordable. Information is also given on the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, which has a function to prevent people from exposure to toxic substances and the health adversities associated with exposure of people to hazardous materials such as waste sites. The website provides information on various offices of the HHS and defining their functions such as the office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, Assistant Secretary for Financial Resource among others.
The website is crucial in outlining the programs and services of HHS that may be useful to the Americans especially those who are unable to effectively help themselves. The information on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act helps Americans in understanding their fundamental health rights that protect them. The health insurance service is also outlined under the programs on how HHS has made its coverage affordable, secure and reliable. The research program is meant to expand scientific understanding of health care, public health, biomedical research, food safety and drugs. Information on the Emergency Preparedness and Response helps the country in preventing and responding to health effects, emergencies and disasters.
The website provides information on the role played by contractors and grantees in protecting the health of all citizens of the United States of America. Through the website one can learn on how the grant process works, how the grant policies are reviewed and regulations that govern it. Concerning the contracts, the user can learn how to work with HHS, understand how HHS conducts business, information on where one can find contract opportunities and requirements. The website has equipped itself with grants and business contacts that can be utilized by different stakeholders in the health and business sector. The website also highlights on how to avoid grant scams.
Laws and regulations that govern the operations of the HHS have been outlined on the website. Examples of laws include the Affordable Care Act of 2010 together with the regulations used to implement the law. The HIPAA privacy rule is crucial in protecting personal health and giving patients a variety of rights. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health is important in supporting the development of information technology infrastructure in the country. The website gives additional information on civil rights, privacy rights, fraud prevention, and freedom of information among much more. The website also provides a section where the public can comment on the open rules. Also, one can file a complaint or an appeal against a decision touching on health information privacy and civil rights.
On the website, one can also access the organizational chart that outlines the hierarchy of operations from the secretary down to the various agencies and offices. This is important to the user in understanding the governance of the organization and the specific duty of each office. Other than the organizational hierarchy, important information on budgeting and performance is also outlined. The budget concerns core services and programs that are geared towards investments in training of caregivers, biomedical research, mental health services, and food and drug safety among others. Also, the user is also able to access valuable information concerning the strategic plan of HHS. HHS updates its strategic plan after every four years that is important in defining its work in relation to addressing complex, evolving and multifaceted service issues. The users of the website will be able to understand the goals, mission and the means by which HHS will use to measure its success in addressing national concerns of the four years.
