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Children's Bureau Name and Hierarchy: Roots and History

This document traces the evolution of the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau from its birth as the U.S. Children's Bureau, which was established in 1912.

The current U.S. Children's Bureau is located in the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and focuses on child welfare, including child protective services (child abuse and neglect) family preservation and support, foster care, adoption, and independent living.

1912 Department of Commerce and Labor >
        Children’s Bureau

        1913 Department of Commerce and Labor renamed Department of Labor

1946 Federal Security Agency >
        Social Security Administration >
                Children’s Bureau

        1953 Federal Security Agency renamed Department of Health, Education and Welfare (DHEW)

1963 DHEW >
        Welfare Administration >
                Children’s Bureau

1965 DHEW>
        Social and Rehabilitation Service >
                Children’s Bureau

1969 Children’s Bureau divided into
        DHEW>
                Children’s Bureau
        DHEW>
                Social and Rehabilitation Service >
                        Child Welfare Services
        DHEW>
                Social and Rehabilitation Service >
                        Juvenile Delinquency Service
        DHEW>
                Public Health Service (PHS) >
                        Health Services and Mental Health Administration (HSMHA) >
                                Maternal and Child Health Service (MCHS)

1973 DHEW>
        Public Health Service >
                Health Services Administration (HSA) >
                        Bureau of Community Health Services (BCHS) >
                                Office of Maternal and Child Health (OMCH)

        ca. 1981 DHEW renamed Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

1982 OMCH renamed Division of Maternal and Child Health
        BCHS renamed Bureau of Health Care Delivery and Assistance
        HSA renamed Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

1987 DHHS >
        Public Health Service
                HRSA >
                        Bureau of Maternal and Child Health and Resources Development (BMCHRD)

1990 BMCHRD renamed Maternal and Child Health Bureau


Prepared by Dr. Taylor Ruhl, March 1998, using information in Hutchins VL. 1994. Maternal and Child Health Bureau: Roots. Pediatrics 94(5):695-699.

 

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