The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) serves more than one million of New Jersey 's most vulnerable citizens, or about one of every eight New Jersey residents.

DHS serves individuals and families with low incomes; people with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, or late-onset disabilities; people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind; parents needing child care services, child support and/or healthcare for their children; and families facing catastrophic medical expenses for their children.

DHS and its eight divisions strive to help individuals and families in need keep their lives on track, their families together, a roof over their heads, and their health protected. The programs and services offered through DHS Human Services give individuals and families the breathing room they need in order to find permanent solutions to otherwise daunting problems.

DHS works to maximize resources, establish community resources, and expand procedures and programs for accountability and continuous quality improvement across the Department. Human Services also provides many support systems for the families served by the Division of Children and Families (DCF).

DHS is the largest agency in New Jersey . It comprises about one-quarter of the state's workforce and budget, with more than 14,000 employees at any given time, and a gross budget of about $10 billion.

10:1-1.1 Department Mission

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is dedicated to providing quality services that consistently meet expectations with the goal to protect, assist and empower economically disadvantaged individuals and families, and people with disabilities to achieve their maximum potential.  We strive to ensure a seamless array of services through partnerships and collaborations with communities statewide.  We seek to promote accountability, transparency and quality in all that we do.