Records Management

Managing recorded information is an important responsibility of every Federal agency. Title 44 U.S.C. 2901 defines records management as “the managerial activities involved with respect to records creation, records maintenance and use, and records disposition in order to achieve adequate and proper documentation of the policies and transactions of the Federal government and effective and economical management of agency operations."

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) (www.archives.gov) provides Federal government oversight and policy for records management and the archiving of Federal records. NARA, in their oversight capacity, has provided the Federal Agencies with a General Records Schedule (GRS) (www.archives.gov) which provides disposition instructions for many commonly occurring records in the Federal agencies.

It is the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy to use NARA's GRS whenever possible for disposition instructions concerning HHS records. For records that are not covered by NARA's GRS, HHS Operating Divisions follow NARA approved records schedules for their Operating Division.

HHS Records Management Procedures Manual

In order to better inform and communicate HHS Records Management best practices to all of HHS, the Departmental Records Officer and the Office of the Chief Information Officer provides this draft HHS Records Management Procedures Manual and associated Appendices:

HHS Records Management Brochures & Handouts

Procedures for Departing HHS (Exiting Employees)
E-Mail Guide For HHS Employees
Documenting Your Public Service (New Employees)

HHS Records Management Policy

HHS Policy for Records Management