The Branch of Health Conservation was legally created in 1924 (Ga. Laws p. 13) with an appropriation from the General Assembly. The general purposes of this agency are to work with children, and with women during their periods of pregnancy. The specific types of work this agency is involved in are the following: (1) family planning: (2) prenatal care; (3) cancer detection; (4) crippled children: (5) lower maternal death rates; (6) congenital defects; (7) well child conferences; (8) mental retardation; (9) newborn screening; (10) nutrition services; (11) child care surveys: (12) head start program; (13) food service in day care centers; (14) school health service; (15) speech and hearing program: (16) tuberculosis testing: (17) P.K.U. screening.