Delaware Health and Social Services

What Delaware Health and Social Services does

Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) is the State of Delaware's cabinet-level agency responsible for administering public health, health coverage, and social service programs for the state's approximately one million residents. The agency is organized into ten operating divisions — including Medicaid & Medical Assistance, Public Health, Social Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities Services, Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, Child Support Services, Health Care Quality, and the Division for the Visually Impaired — plus the Delaware Health Care Commission as a policy/oversight body. Headquartered at the Herman M. Holloway Sr. Campus in New Castle, DHSS employs over 4,000 full-time staff and delivers services through 19 State Service Centers across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties, three 24/7 state-operated residential facilities (Delaware Psychiatric Center, Stockley Center, and Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill), and a state Public Health Laboratory in Smyrna. Service recipients include Medicaid beneficiaries (~25% of state population), SNAP recipients, individuals with developmental and physical disabilities, seniors, children and families, and persons experiencing mental health or substance use crises.

DHSS's core service portfolio spans means-tested cash and food assistance (SNAP/EBT, TANF, General Assistance), health coverage programs (Diamond State Health Plan, Diamond State Health Plan Plus, Long-Term Care Medicaid, Delaware Healthy Children Program/CHIP, Delaware Prescription Assistance Program), public health services (vaccinations via DelVAX, WIC, STD/HIV testing, family planning, cancer screening, disease surveillance via the My Healthy Community Open Data Portal), behavioral health crisis intervention (988 Lifeline, mobile crisis, Bridge Clinics), child support enforcement, emergency and transitional housing, and protective services for vulnerable adults. Underlying technology infrastructure includes the ASSIST online benefits application portal, the DelVAX vaccination portal, WIC client portal, and EBT distribution systems.

As a state government entity, DHSS is funded through Delaware state budget appropriations and federal program funds (Medicaid match, SNAP, federal grants, and ARPA allocations) and does not generate commercial revenue. It has no parent company beyond the State of Delaware, no external shareholders, and no IPO pathway; leadership consists of a Cabinet Secretary appointed by the Governor plus division directors, with operations overseen by an Acting Secretary as of October 2025 during Senate confirmation of a permanent Secretary nominee.

Name

Delaware Health and Social Services

Legal name

Delaware Health and Social Services

Website

https://dhss.delaware.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Delaware Health and Social Services is the State of Delaware's cabinet agency administering Medicaid, SNAP, behavioral health, disability, aging, and public health programs to state residents through 10 divisions, 19 State Service Centers, and 4,000+ staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health and Social Services

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Individual and Family Services (6241), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial/Regional Health Departments (HLAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Health Department & Public Health Administration (BPAIABAH), Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH), D-SNP Long-Term Services & Supports (LTSS) Coordination (HLAEAFAD), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Public health services
• Medicaid administration
• Social services
• Behavioral health services
• Developmental disabilities services

Headquarters

HQ city

New Castle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding: State budget allocations from Delaware state government for operating DHSS divisions and programs
2. Federal Funding: Federal grants and matching funds for Medicaid, SNAP, public health programs, and other federally-funded health and social services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) is a state government agency that administers essential public health and social services for Delaware residents. It delivers Medicaid and health insurance programs, SNAP food assistance, mental health and substance use treatment, developmental disabilities and aging services, child support enforcement, and public health programs through 19 State Service Centers, the ASSIST online portal, and three 24/7 residential facilities. The agency operates ten divisions covering public health, social services, Medicaid, behavioral health, aging and disabilities, child support, and health care quality oversight.

Product overview

Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) is a state government agency providing essential health and social services rather than a commercial technology product. The agency operates a portfolio of service delivery channels including physical State Service Centers, the ASSIST online benefits portal, and the Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace. Core health services include Division of Public Health clinics offering vaccinations (via DelVAX), STD/HIV testing, and general health services; Medicaid and CHIP programs providing medical coverage; and mental health/addiction services through the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Delaware Psychiatric Center. Social services span SNAP food assistance, child support enforcement, developmental disabilities services, services for the visually impaired, adult protective services, and emergency housing assistance. The agency also operates specialized facilities including the Delaware Psychiatric Center, Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, and Stockley Center, along with the public-facing My Healthy Community data portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Diamond State Health Plan: Medicaid managed care program offering health coverage to eligible Delaware residents
• Diamond State Health Plan Plus
• Delaware Healthy Children Program
• Delaware Prescription Assistance Program
• ASSIST

Products and services

• State Service Centers Physical service centers providing in-person access to social services, Medicaid enrollment, food assistance, emergency services, and community resources across Delaware's three counties.
• ASSIST Benefits Application Portal Online portal enabling Delaware residents to apply for and manage benefits including SNAP, Medicaid, TANF cash assistance, and other social services.
• Medicaid and Medical Assistance Programs Suite of Medicaid programs including Diamond State Health Plan, Diamond State Health Plan Plus (long-term care), Long-Term Care Medicaid, Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities, Adult Dental Services, and the Chronic Renal Disease Program for eligible Delaware residents.
• Delaware Healthy Children Program (CHIP) Children's Health Insurance Program providing high-quality, low-cost health insurance for uninsured children in Delaware families with incomes at or below 200% federal poverty level.
• SNAP/EBT Food Assistance Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enabling low-income Delaware families to purchase nutritious food through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.
• Division of Public Health Clinics Community health clinics providing vaccinations, STD testing, HIV services, tuberculosis screening, family planning, and general preventive health services to Delaware residents.
• DelVAX Public Vaccination Portal Online portal for managing vaccination records and scheduling vaccinations through the Division of Public Health.
• WIC Client Portal Online portal for Women, Infants, and Children supplemental nutrition program participants to access benefits and services.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 crisis intervention service providing immediate support via call, text, or chat for individuals experiencing mental health crises in Delaware.
• Mental Health and Addiction Services Comprehensive behavioral health services including crisis hotlines, mobile crisis intervention, addiction treatment programs, Bridge Clinics, and Delaware Psychiatric Center inpatient care.
• Division of Developmental Disabilities Services Home and community-based services, Pathways to Employment, caregiver support, respite services, and Stockley Center residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Division for the Visually Impaired Services for blind and visually impaired individuals including education, employment support, independent living, low vision, orientation/mobility, and technology training programs.
• Adult Protective Services Protection services for vulnerable adults including abuse reporting, investigation, and intervention for adults with disabilities or seniors.
• Division of Child Support Services Services for establishing paternity, modifying child support orders, and enforcing medical and financial child support obligations for Delaware families.
• Emergency and Transitional Housing Emergency shelter services including motel vouchers, transitional housing funds, and homelessness prevention assistance for Delaware residents in crisis.
• Delaware Psychiatric Center State-operated secured inpatient acute care facility providing psychiatric treatment for adults experiencing severe mental illness.
• Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill State-operated long-term skilled nursing facility providing care for chronically ill residents, currently undergoing replacement with a new 120-bed facility scheduled to open in 2027.
• Delaware Health Care Commission Programs Oversight body managing health care spending benchmarks, provider loan repayment programs, reinsurance, and health resources planning for Delaware.
• My Healthy Community Open Data Portal Public health data portal providing community health statistics, disease surveillance, and health-related metrics for Delaware communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Health coverage provided to nearly 1 in 4 Delaware residents through Medicaid
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DNREC (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2025Joint grant program between DHSS and DNREC using Delaware PFAS Settlement Funds to support community outreach and awareness about PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). DHSS provides funding while DNREC contributes technical environmental expertise.
• Delaware Emergency Management AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partner in supporting the EMS whole blood program for prehospital care across Delaware's three counties.
• Brandywine Valley SPCAcoreOthers · 1 October 2025State's contracted animal shelter providing emergency animal care, medical evaluation, treatment, and adoption services. DAS works with Brandywine Valley SPCA for animal seizure and cruelty response cases.
• Northeastern States Regional Public Health CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2025Delaware joining other Northeast states in a multi-state collaborative focused on developing evidence-based recommendations on vaccinations, disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and supporting state public health labs. Coalition includes Massachusetts and other northeastern states working together on shared public health challenges.
• Thomas Jefferson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2025State and Thomas Jefferson University partnership to establish Delaware's first medical school, addressing healthcare workforce shortages and improving access to medical education for Delaware residents.
• Blood Bank of DelmarvacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2024Collaborative partnership supporting Delaware's statewide EMS whole blood program. Blood Bank provides blood products while DPH's Office of EMS coordinates with county paramedic agencies for prehospital blood administration, making Delaware first state with all counties providing whole blood.
• American Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2024Partnership for second annual National Lung Cancer Screening Day campaign to reduce high mortality rates. ACS National Lung Cancer Roundtable collaborated with DPH to promote lung cancer screening, improve access to care, and save lives through early detection.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Maryland Department of Health: Cabinet-level state health agency in neighboring Maryland administering Medicaid, public health, behavioral health, and developmental disabilities services — direct functional analog to DHSS with a similar Mid-Atlantic entitlement mix.
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health: Northeastern state public health agency that is a coalition partner with DHSS in the Northeastern States Regional Public Health Coalition — directly comparable Division of Public Health function.
• Connecticut Department of Social Services: Northeastern state agency administering Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and social services for older adults and persons with disabilities — closely matches DHSS's Division of Social Services scope.
• Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services: Virginia's state Medicaid agency operating the Cardinal Care managed-care program — comparable to DHSS's Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance and Diamond State Health Plan.
• Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Pennsylvania's state agency administering Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, behavioral health, and long-term services — directly comparable scope and division structure to DHSS, operating in a neighboring Mid-Atlantic state.
• New Jersey Department of Human Services: New Jersey's combined health and social services cabinet department — structurally the closest Mid-Atlantic peer to DHSS, integrating Medicaid, aging, disability, and behavioral health under one umbrella.

Broad incumbents

• New York State Department of Health: Large, established state health department administering Medicaid, public health, and oversight of behavioral and long-term care — a broader-incumbent scale analog to DHSS, especially the Division of Public Health function.
• California Department of Health Care Services: California's Medi-Cal (Medicaid) administering agency with comparable program portfolio (managed care, LTSS, behavioral health) to DHSS's Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance, at substantially larger scale.
• Ohio Department of Health: Mid-sized state public health agency operating divisions for disease prevention, environmental health, and vital statistics — a functional analog to DHSS's Division of Public Health.
• Florida Agency for Health Care Administration: Florida's state Medicaid and health-care-quality agency — directly comparable to DHSS's Division of Health Care Quality and Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance functions, at a much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Delaware_DHSS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DelDHSS
• Facebookfacebook.com/DelawareDHSS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delaware-dept-of-health-and-social-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/deldhss

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments8 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Delaware Health and Social Services