Commissioned to explore the relations between the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) and state and local agencies in the field of health, the committee interviewed key HEW administrators, met with state and selected local health officials in nine states and officials of health associations, and invited comments from more than 50 professional health and welfare organizations. Government functioning is complicated by (1) diffusion of responsibility through various agencies other than HEW and within HEW through agencies other than the Public Health Service, (2) inadequate provision for coordinating the health activities of the numerous agencies, (3) further diffusion, compartmentalization, and lack of coordination at the state and local levels, (4) inadequacy of regional approaches, and (5) the shortage of qualified health manpower. Included in the 29 comprehensive recommendations for strengthening the local, state, or federal health partnership are the (1) transfer of Office of Economic Opportunity demonstration projects to HEW Administration after they have proved their Health Manpower, and (3) expansion of training programs for supporting personnel along with guidance, student aid, and eacher education programssupported by the Office of Education. (JK)