Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

Definition

The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) was a cabinet-level department in the United States federal government established in 1953 to oversee national health, education, and social welfare programs. HEW played a critical role in implementing various social programs during the War on Poverty era, aiming to reduce poverty and improve living standards through education and health initiatives.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. HEW was created to combine several agencies focused on health, education, and welfare into one department for better coordination of federal services.
2. During its operation, HEW administered significant programs like Head Start, food assistance programs, and community health services that aimed to lift Americans out of poverty.
3. The department was pivotal in enforcing civil rights laws in schools and healthcare settings during the 1960s and 1970s.
4. In 1979, HEW was split into two separate departments: the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education to focus more effectively on their respective missions.
5. The legacy of HEW's initiatives contributed to shaping modern social safety nets and health policies that are still influential today.

Review Questions

• How did the establishment of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare reflect the government's response to social issues during its time?
  • The establishment of HEW was a direct response to the growing recognition of social issues like poverty, health disparities, and educational inequities in post-war America. By consolidating agencies under one department, the government aimed to create a more efficient approach to tackling these pressing challenges. This move symbolized a shift towards a more interventionist role by the federal government in ensuring that citizens had access to essential services that would improve their quality of life.
• Evaluate the impact of HEW's programs on American society during the War on Poverty era.
  • HEW's programs had a profound impact on American society by directly addressing issues of poverty through initiatives like Head Start and nutritional assistance. These programs not only provided immediate relief but also focused on long-term solutions such as education and healthcare improvements. The department's efforts contributed significantly to raising awareness about poverty and set the groundwork for future social welfare policies that expanded government support systems.
• Synthesize how the dissolution of HEW into separate departments influenced health and education policies in subsequent decades.
  • The dissolution of HEW into the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education allowed for a more specialized approach to health and education policies. This separation enabled each department to focus more effectively on its specific mandates, resulting in targeted strategies that addressed diverse challenges within their domains. The evolution from a unified department to specialized entities paved the way for significant advancements in public health initiatives and educational reforms that have continued to shape policy discussions into the 21st century.

Related terms

War on Poverty:

A set of initiatives launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s aimed at eliminating poverty in the United States through various social welfare programs.

Social Security Act: A law enacted in 1935 that established a system of old-age benefits, unemployment insurance, and aid to dependent children, forming the foundation for modern social welfare in the U.S.

Medicare and Medicaid: Health care programs established in 1965 under the Social Security Amendments that provide health coverage for the elderly (Medicare) and low-income individuals (Medicaid).