---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 709"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "709"
heading: "Administration of Federal and State programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/709"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Social Security"
  - "Subchapter V — Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant"
---

# §709. Administration of Federal and State programs

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall designate an identifiable administrative unit with expertise in maternal and [child](/usc/42/1382c.md?p=c) health within the Department of Health and Human Services, which unit shall be responsible for—
  - (1) the Federal program described in [section 702(a) of this title](/usc/42/702.md?p=a);
  - (2) promoting coordination at the Federal level of the activities authorized under this subchapter and under subchapter XIX of this chapter, especially early and periodic screening, diagnosis and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), related activities funded by the Departments of Agriculture and Education, and under health block [grants](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10) and categorical health programs, such as immunizations, administered by the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6);
  - (3) disseminating information to the [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) in such areas as preventive health services and advances in the care and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of mothers and children;
  - (4) providing technical assistance, upon request, to the [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) in such areas as program planning, establishment of goals and objectives, [standards](/usc/42/1320d.md?p=7) of care, and evaluation and in developing consistent and accurate data collection mechanisms in order to report the information required under [section 706(a)(2) of this title](/usc/42/706.md?p=a-2);
  - (5) in cooperation with the National Center for Health Statistics and in a manner that avoids duplication of data collection, collection, maintenance, and dissemination of information relating to the health status and health service needs of mothers and children in the [United States](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-2);
  - (6) assisting in the preparation of reports to the Congress on the activities funded and accomplishments achieved under this subchapter from the information required to be reported by the [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) under sections [705(a)](/usc/42/705.md?p=a) and [706](/usc/42/706.md) of this title; and[^1]
  - (7) assisting [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) in the development of [care coordination services](/usc/42/701.md?p=b-3) (as defined in [section 701(b)(3) of this title](/usc/42/701.md?p=b-3)); and
  - (8) developing and making available to the [State agency](/usc/42/629a.md?p=a-3) (or [agencies](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1)) administering the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5)’s program under this subchapter a national directory listing by [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) the toll-free numbers described in [section 705(a)(5)(E) of this title](/usc/42/705.md?p=a-5-E).
- (b) The [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) health [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1) of each [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) shall be responsible for the [administration](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-10) (or supervision of the [administration](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-10)) of programs carried out with allotments made to the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) under this subchapter, except that, in the case of a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) which on July 1, 1967, provided for [administration](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-10) (or supervision thereof) of the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) plan under this subchapter (as in effect on such date) by a [State agency](/usc/42/629a.md?p=a-3) other than the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) health [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1), that [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) shall be considered to comply[^2] the requirement of this subsection if it would otherwise comply but for the fact that such other [State agency](/usc/42/629a.md?p=a-3) administers (or supervises the [administration](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-10) of) any such program providing services for children with special health care needs.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear.
[^2]: So in original. Probably should be “comply with”.

## Source credit

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title V, § 509, as added Pub. L. 97–35, title XXI, § 2192(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 825; amended Pub. L. 99–272, title IX, § 9527(e), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 219; Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, §§ 6503(c)(4), 6505, Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2278, 2281.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 709, act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title V, § 509, as added Jan. 2, 1968, Pub. L. 90–248, title III, § 301, 81 Stat. 926; amended July 10, 1972, Pub. L. 92–345, § 2(e), 86 Stat. 457; Oct. 30, 1972, Pub. L. 92–603, title II, §§ 221(c)(3), 233(e), 86 Stat. 1389, 1412; July 1, 1973, Pub. L. 93–53, § 4(a)(7), 87 Stat. 135, related to special project grants for health of school and preschool children, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by section 2192(a) of Pub. L. 97–35. For effective date, savings, and transitional provisions, see section 2194 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 701 of this title.

Provisions similar to those comprising former section 709, were contained in section 532 of act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title V, as added July 30, 1965, Pub. L. 89–97, title II, § 205(3), 79 Stat. 354 (formerly classified to section 729–1 of this title), prior to the general amendment and renumbering of title V of act Aug. 14, 1935, by Pub. L. 90–248, § 301.

### Amendments

1989—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 101–239, § 6505(1), inserted before semicolon at end “and in developing consistent and accurate data collection mechanisms in order to report the information required under section 706(a)(2) of this title”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 101–239, § 6503(c)(4), substituted “705(a)” for “705”.

Subsec. (a)(7), (8). Pub. L. 101–239, § 6505(2)–(4), added pars. (7) and (8).

1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–272 substituted “children with special health care needs” for “crippled children”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by section 6503(c)(4) of Pub. L. 101–239 applicable to payments for allotments for fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1991, and amendment by section 6505 of Pub. L. 101–239 applicable to appropriations for fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1990, see section 6510(a), (b)(1) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 701 of this title.

### Report to Congress; Evaluation of Program

Pub. L. 89–97, title II, § 206, July 30, 1965, 79 Stat. 354, authorized Secretary to submit to President for transmission to Congress before July 1, 1969, a full report of administration of provisions of section 729–1 of this title, which was covered by former sections 701, 702(1)(B), and 709 of this title, together with an evaluation of program established thereby and his recommendations as to continuation of and modifications in that program.