One of Delaware’s largest state agencies, the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) provides essential services to improve the quality of life for Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
DHSS supports and uplifts Delawareans at some of the most challenging moments in their lives. Whether connecting people with emergency assistance and social services through our State Service Centers; protecting water, air and bodies through public health programming; providing health coverage to nearly 1 in 4 Delaware residents through Medicaid and medical assistance programs; driving efforts to reduce substance abuse and address mental health needs; enforcing and processing child support orders; or serving populations with complex physical and behavioral needs, the more than 4,000 full-time members of the DHSS team serve Delawareans with dignity, compassion and innovation through a variety of state and federally funded health and social service programs.
Divisions
The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) comprises nine public-facing divisions that administer essential programs for Delawareans, including public health, economic assistance, and social support, Medicaid, and services for aging, developmental and physical disabilities.
Division of Child Support Services
The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) helps parents and caregivers ensure that children receive the financial and medical support they need to grow and thrive.
Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Prader Willi Syndrome with significant limitations in adaptive functioning.
Division of Health Care Quality
The Division of Health Care Quality (DHCQ) protects Delaware citizens who live or receive treatment in acute, outpatient and long-term health care settings.
Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance
The Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA) administers a variety of medical assistance programs to make sure low-income Delawareans and those with developmental and physical disabilities have access to the healthcare services they need.
Division of Public Health
The Division of Public Health (DPH) protects and promotes the health of all Delawareans through community health clinics, emergency medical services, emergency preparedness, infectious disease prevention, epidemiology, restaurant inspections, animal welfare and health systems protection.
Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities
The Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) provides a broad range of services to support older Delawareans, those with disabilities and their caregivers.
Division of Social Services
The Division of Social Services operates State Service Centers throughout the state administering emergency food, shelter utility and cash assistance programs to help Delaware’s most disadvantaged families move toward and maintain independence.
Division of Substance Abuse & Mental Health
The Division of Substance Abuse & Mental Health (DSAMH) works with community partners and private contracted agencies to make sure every Delawarean has easy access to the prevention, treatment and referral services they need for mental health, substance abuse disorder and gambling conditions.
Division for the Visually Impaired
The Division for the Visually Impaired (DVI) empowers Delawareans who are blind or have low vision to live with greater independence, confidence and opportunity.
Office of the Secretary – Administration
The Office of the Secretary – Administration (OSEC-Admin) division provides administration and operational support for DHSS’ nine public-facing divisions.
Division Leadership
Division of Child Support Services
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Theodore Mermigos Jr. | Theodore.Mermigos@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Julie Shahan | Julie.Shahan@delaware.gov |
Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Jody Roberts | Jody.Roberts@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Stacy Watkins | Stacy.Watkins@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Amelia Khalil | Amelia.Khalil@delaware.gov |
Division of Health Care Quality
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Amanda Levering | Amanda.Levering@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Vacant |
Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Andrew Wilson | Andrew.Wilson@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Janneen Boyce | Janneen.Boyce@delaware.gov |
Division of Public Health
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Steven Blessing | Steven.Blessing@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Shonetesha Quail | Tesha.Quail@Delaware.gov |
Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Shekelia Hines | Shekelia.Hines@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Joe Bryant | Joe.Bryant@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Teresa Ritter | Teresa.Ritter@delaware.gov |
Division of Social Services
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Thomas Hall | thomas.hall@delaware.gov |
| Director | Stephanie Staats | stephanie.staats@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Marcella Spady | Marcella.Spady@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Faith Mwaura | Faith.Mwaura@delaware.gov |
Division of Substance Abuse & Mental Health
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Joanna Champney | Joanna.Champney@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Heather Doncaster | Heather.Doncaster@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Frances Marti | Frances.Marti@delaware.gov |
Division for the Visually Impaired
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Deborah Talley | deborah.talley@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Jamie Towns | Jamie.Towns@delaware.gov |
Office of the Secretary – Administration
| Title | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Rebecca Reichardt | Rebecca.Reichardt@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Michelle Campbell | Michelle.Campbell@delaware.gov |
| Deputy Director | Christopher Hall | Christopher.Hall@delaware.gov |
| Chief Operating Officer | Alexis Bryan-Dorsey | Alexis.Bryan-Dorsey@delaware.gov |
Campuses and Facilities
In addition to 19 State Service Centers and Social Services facilities conveniently located through the state, DHSS also operates group homes and treatment facilities, a state-of-the-science Public Health Lab, and three 24/7 residential facilities.
DHSS facilities include the Delaware Psychiatric Center in New Castle County, providing secured, inpatient acute care and treatment for adults experiencing severe mental illness; the Stockley Center in Sussex County, offering habilitative training, health care, family and residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities; and the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Kent County, Delaware’s only state-operated long-term skilled nursing facility.
Campuses
Herman M. Holloway Sr. Delaware Health and Social Services Campus
1901 N. DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE 19720
302-255-9040
Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill
100 Sunnyside Road
Smyrna DE 19977
302-223-1000
Stockley Center
26351 Patriots Way
Georgetown DE 19947
302-933-3000
Facilities
Delaware Psychiatric Center
1901 N. DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE 19720
302-255-2700
Public Health Lab
30 Sunnyside Road
Smyrna, DE 19977
302-802-5000
State Service Centers
Please visit the State Service Centers page to locate your closest location.
