Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary on public affairs, managing communication strategies, media relations, and public information dissemination for the Department.
Mission
The mission of ASPA is to inform the public about HHS's activities and policies, manage the Department's public image, and ensure clear, accurate communication of health and human services information to the public, media, and stakeholders.
Parent organization
ASPA is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Legislation
ASPA's operations are supported by the general legislative authority given to HHS under the Public Health Service Act and other health-related laws, though there's no specific legislation directly establishing ASPA[1].
Number of employees
The exact number of employees isn't publicly specified, but ASPA includes a team of communications professionals, press officers, and policy analysts.
Organization structure
- **Public Affairs Operations** handles daily communications, media relations, and press briefings.
- **Strategic Communications** focuses on long-term messaging strategies and campaigns.
- **Digital Communications Division** manages HHS's online presence and digital content.
List of programs
- Emergency Incident Communications for health crises.
- Public Education Campaigns on health issues like vaccination and mental health.
- Management of FOIA Requests related to public affairs.
Last total enacted budget
Specific budget figures for ASPA are not publicly detailed, being part of the broader HHS administrative budget.
Leader
The title of the leader is Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.
Services provided
ASPA provides services like media coordination, speechwriting for HHS leadership, digital content creation, crisis communication, and public engagement. They also manage the Department's social media, website content, and public health campaigns.
Regulations overseen
While not directly overseeing regulations, ASPA ensures that all public communications comply with federal guidelines regarding transparency, privacy, and the release of information.
Headquarters address
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, USA
Website
https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/aspa/index.html
Wikipedia article
There is no specific Wikipedia article for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.