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Department of Human Services Website

Shapiro Administration Announces Plan for $21 Million Gap in Federal Funding for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Temporarily Pauses Cash Payments, Crisis Grants Remains Available

03/15/2024
Harrisburg, PA – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh today outlined the Shapiro Administration’s plans to continue distributing LIHEAP assistance grants to Pennsylvanians while the Commonwealth waits for the remaining 10 percent of federal funding for the program currently being held back by Congress.

Shapiro Administration Warns of Potential SNAP Benefits Scam, Reminds Public of Safe Ways to Apply for Assistance

03/12/2024
DHS is informing Pennsylvanians of a potential scam targeting individuals who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

ICYMI: Advocates Continue to Praise Governor Shapiro’s Proposed Investments in Intellectual Disability and Autism Services, Workforce

03/05/2024
Advocates across the Commonwealth are praising Governor Shapiro's budget proposal, which sets a transformative course to eliminate waiting lists for services for adults and reduce barriers to care for thousands of Pennsylvanians over the next several years.

Department of Human Services Shares Resources for Alternate Claims Submission and Eligibility Verifications for Providers Affected by Change Healthcare Outage

03/05/2024
DHS advised health care providers participating in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program on how they may continue to bill DHS directly for fee-for-service claims while Change Healthcare remains unavailable due to a cyber-attack.

ICYMI: Advocates, Editorial Boards Praise Governor Shapiro’s Proposed Investments in Intellectual Disability and Autism Services, Workforce

02/15/2024
Advocates, caregivers, and editorial boards across the Commonwealth praised the Governor's proposed budget, which sets a transformative course to eliminate waiting lists for services for adults and reduce barriers to care for thousands of Pennsylvanians over the next several years.

Shapiro Administration Releases Report, Recommendations to Improve Coordination of Care, Services for Children and Young Adults with Complex Needs

02/12/2024
DHS released recommendations from its Blueprint Workgroup, an interdisciplinary group comprised of representation from state and local governments, health care, education, service providers, managed care, and family advocates.

Shapiro Administration Warns of Potential SNAP Benefits Scam, Reminds Public of Safe Ways to Apply for Assistance

02/09/2024
DHS informed Pennsylvanians of a potential scam targeting individuals who receive SNAP benefits wherein a recipient receives a phishing email in order to obtain their personal information.

DHS Secretary Arkoosh Visits Street Medicine Provider in Pittsburgh, Highlights Shapiro Administration’s Expansion of Health Care Coverage Through Medicaid

01/30/2024
DHS visited Pittsburgh Mercy to discuss how health care has improved for unhoused individuals covered by Medicaid. Sec. Arkoosh toured a year-round, low-barrier shelter and engagement center and spent time with health care providers and their unhoused patients during street medicine rounds.

Department of Human Services, Community College of Allegheny County Highlight Program Making Post-Secondary Education More Accessible to Lower Income Students

01/29/2024
DHS visited the Community College of Allegheny County to highlight their Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) Program and its work to make post-secondary education accessible to lower income people and build pathways to success in high-need career paths.

Shapiro Administration Launches PA Navigate, A New Online Tool to Better Connect Pennsylvanians with Food, Housing, Childcare and More

01/23/2024
DHS announced the launch of PA Navigate, an online tool that connects Pennsylvanians with community-based organizations, county and state agencies, and healthcare providers, for referrals to community resources that help them meet their most basic needs like food, shelter, transportation, and more.

Shapiro Administration Announces Grantees for New Women’s Service Program to Provide a Full Range of Health Care Services

01/23/2024
DHS announced the grantees that will administer the new Women’s Service Program, a grant intended to advance accessible and inclusive women’s health care, especially for pregnant and parenting women.

ICYMI: Editorial Boards Praise Shapiro Administration Policies to Feed Hungry Kids and Make “Every Pennsylvanian Proud”

01/18/2024
Editorial Boards from PennLive and the York Dispatch praised the Shapiro Administration’s decision to opt into the Summer EBT program that extends support beyond the school year to make sure Pennsylvania’s children have food throughout the summer.

Department of Human Services Launches Survey to Medicaid Recipients on Medicaid Renewals Experience

01/18/2024
DHS announced the launch of a survey to collect feedback from Medicaid enrollees about their experience completing their annual renewal.

Shapiro Administration Touts Bipartisan Legislation Signed by Governor that Expands Access, Coverage for Infants Needing Donor Human Milk

01/17/2024
Medically vulnerable infants in Pennsylvania will have expanded access to potentially life-saving pasteurized donor human milk thanks to legislation recently passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Josh Shapiro.

Shapiro Administration Announces Plan to Provide Food Access for Students During Summer Break

01/10/2024
DHS and PDE announced the Commonwealth’s intent to operate the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer-EBT) program in summer 2024, allowing children to access nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session.

Department of Human Services Leadership Elected to National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services Position

01/05/2024
DHS celebrated Kristin Ahrens’, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), recent appointment to board member-at-large at the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS)

Shapiro Administration Highlights Innovative Suicide Prevention App as Part of Mental Health Supports for Pennsylvanians

01/04/2024
DHS announced a collaboration with The Columbia Lighthouse Project and mental health experts from across Pennsylvania to update the Columbia Protocol Mobile App, an evidence-based tool designed to assess suicide risk severity.

Shapiro Administration Announces New Grant Funding Available for Child Care Providers to Invest in Programs, Activities that Promote Quality of Care and Professional Development

12/22/2023
DHS announced the Office of Child Development and Early Learning is accepting applications for Keystone STARS Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) awards.

Shapiro Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Supports, Public Assistance Programs, and Other Resources Available During the Holiday Season

12/21/2023
Members of the Shapiro Administration today reminded Pennsylvanians of resources that are available to support them during the holiday season and beyond.

Shapiro Administration, University of Pittsburgh Partner to Offer Free Trauma-Informed Therapy Certification to Mental Health Providers

12/20/2023
DHS and the University of Pittsburgh today announced a free certification program that offers eligible Medicaid mental health providers the opportunity to obtain a trauma-informed therapy certification at no cost.

Shapiro Administration Gets Stuff Done: Securing Major Budget Wins to Increase Pennsylvanians’ Access to Critical Mental Health, Disability, and Child Care Supports

12/20/2023
DHS highlighted the Shapiro Administration’s significant investments in creating healthier communities for Pennsylvanians and helping people access the care and services they need.

Shapiro Administration Gets Stuff Done: Reducing Medicaid Red Tape, Keeping Pennsylvanians Covered During First Year in Office

12/19/2023
DHS underscored the Shapiro Administration’s get stuff done approach by highlighting its work to cut red tape and keep millions of Pennsylvanians covered through Medicaid amid major federal changes to the program.

Department of Human Services Announces New Temporary Location for Washington County Assistance Office

12/13/2023
DHS announced the Washington County Assistance Office has temporarily relocated.

Department of Human Services Highlights Research and Resources Aimed at Preventing Suicide

12/13/2023
DHS released the latest issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, which aims to provide the most recent research and resources for people with mental health and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to live an everyday life.

Shapiro Administration Celebrates 33rd Annual Holiday Wish Program, Provides Gifts, Resources, and Holiday Cheer to Hundreds of Pennsylvanians

12/06/2023
Cabinet members from the Shapiro Administration today gathered to celebrate the 33rd Annual Holiday Wish Program, which is run by Commonwealth employees, and provides gifts for people in need across Pennsylvania. This year, the Holiday Wish Program will provide gifts to more than 600 people, including more than 150 families and 60 seniors.

Shapiro Administration Announces Public Comment Opportunity for Federal Application Proposing New Medicaid Program Flexibilities to Help Improve Pennsylvanians’ Health DHS

12/04/2023
DHS announced the opening of a public comment period for a proposed federal flexibility that, if approved, would allow states to make changes to their Medicaid programs with the goal of helping people live healthier lives.

Shapiro Administration Highlights Ongoing Technical Assistance that Enhances Care for Pennsylvanians in Long-Term Care Facilities

11/29/2023
DOH and DHS joined together today at Country Meadows of West Shore to highlight continued efforts by the Shapiro Administration to enhance care for residents in long-term care communities.

Shapiro Administration Announces Significant Improvement in Medicaid, CHIP Payment Error Rates, Pennsylvania Rates Well Below National Average 

11/28/2023
DHS announced Pennsylvania’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) payment error rates are well below the national average and among the lowest in the country.

Department of Human Services to Appoint State Operations Manager to Lead Blair County’s Office of Children, Youth and Families, Issues the County a Fourth Provisional License 

11/16/2023
DHS announced it will appoint a State Operations Manager to lead Blair County’s Office of Children, Youth and Families to  help ensure Blair County is meeting its responsibility under state and federal law to support families and protect children.

Shapiro Administration Donates Stuffed Toys Collected from L&I’s Annual Safety Inspections for the 2023 Holiday Season

11/15/2023
L&I and DHS kicked off the 2023 holiday season with an annual donation of stuffed toys collected throughout the year by L&I during routine safety inspections. The toys will be distributed to Pennsylvania families through DHS’ Holiday Wish program.
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