Committed to transparency and openness
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request is a written request access for government records related to public business or public purposes, or in the public interest. The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to transparency and openness.
All FOIA requests must be in writing and must provide enough detail to allow the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to locate the requested records with reasonable effort. DHSS will make every reasonable effort to assist you in identifying the records being sought. The FOIA coordinator may request additional information to help fulfill the request.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to submit a FOIA request
To submit a request under Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act (29 Del.C. §§ 10001 et seq.):
| Method | Information |
|---|---|
| Delaware Health and Social Services Attention: DHSS FOIA Coordinator 1901 North Dupont Highway New Castle, DE 19720 | |
| Fax | 302-255-4429 |
| DHSS.FOIA@delaware.gov |
How long does a FOIA request take?
Within 15 business days from receipt of your request DHSS will either provide you with access to the records, deny your request, or state that additional time is needed.
If the request is for voluminous, or a large amount of records, requires legal advice, or is for records in storage or archived, the deadline may be extended. The FOIA coordinator will provide a good faith estimate of when a response will be provided.
Are there costs involved with a FOIA request?
You will be notified of any costs involved in responding to your request. See (29 Del.C. §§ 10001 et seq.) for more information about costs and access to records.
What is excluded from FOIA
Certain categories of records are excluded from the definition of public record. For example, trade secrets, investigatory files compiled for civil or criminal law-enforcement purposes, and certain personnel and medical information are exempt. See 29 Del. C. § 10002(o) for a full list of the exemptions.
Where can I learn more about FOIA?
Please note that all out-of-state requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
For additional information about a specific FOIA request to the Department of Health and Social Services, please contact FOIA coordinator at DHSS.FOIA@delaware.gov.
Learn more about FOIA here.
