The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

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"As I attend events across Pennsylvania to talk about the upcoming federal changes to Medicaid because of the Republican budget, people often ask me, 'Why does this matter to me? I don't have Medicaid.'" "My answer is always the same: What happens in Medicaid affects all of us, no matter what type of insurance we have. I recently attended Health Management Associates' panel 'Ripple Effects: How Federal Medicaid Policy Shapes Pennsylvania’s Budget, Care Systems, and Communities,' with other local leaders in this space, and shared some of the impacts we will all feel when federal Medicaid changes go into effect. The more that we can help people understand that our health care systems are a tightly connected ecosystem, the easier it will be to find collective solutions to the challenges facing all of us."- DHS Secretary Valerie Arkoosh, MD, MPH

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is a national public health crisis causing immeasurable pain for individuals, families, and communities across our Commonwealth, and we are committed to providing resources and promoting safe, supportive environments where our families, friends, neighbors, and communities know they can turn to if they are in crisis. Pennsylvania has twelve 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call Centers operating to respond to mental and behavioral health crises, and the Department of Human Services is continuing to work to develop a statewide continuum of care for crisis response so all mental and behavioral health needs can be met. Reducing the stigma by discussing suicide and increasing the awareness of available resources for those suffering from suicidal thoughts fosters a Pennsylvania which promotes and protects the health and well-being of all throughout our communities. #SuicidePreventionMonth

Happy Labor Day, PA! We are grateful for the progress made possible by organized labor, and we thank our friends in labor here at DHS and around our Commonwealth for all they do for Pennsylvania. We hope all Pennsylvanians have a safe and relaxing holiday!  

"Community Health Workers play a vital role in Pennsylvania’s future. By identifying resources our neighbors need like health care, transportation, and child care, and connecting people to those services, Community Health Workers make life-changing differences in our communities across the Commonwealth.  "I recently visited Reading Hospital to meet with Community Health Workers and thank them for all they do to keep our fellow Pennsylvanians healthy and help them thrive. As trusted voices for their neighbors and communities, Community Health Workers will be vital partners as we navigate work and reporting requirement changes taking effect for SNAP this year and Medicaid recipients in 2027 as mandated by the federal Republican Budget signed into law on July 4. We are so grateful for Community Health Workers’ dedication, hard work, support, and service to all Pennsylvanians today and every day." -DHS Secretary Valerie Arkoosh, MD, MPH #CommunityHealthWorkerAwarenessWeek

Thanks to Historic Investments, Shapiro Administration Expands ID/A Services to 4,000 More Pennsylvanians, Reduces Waitlist by 28 Percent, and Raises Wages for Direct Support Professionals: https://bit.ly/4mHUYqa Governor Josh Shapiro and DHS Secretary Valerie Arkoosh, MD, MPH joined families, advocates, and community leaders at ARC HUMAN SERVICES, INC. in Washington County to announce that the Shapiro Administration has made historic progress in expanding access to intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) services across Pennsylvania. “People often underestimate what people with disabilities are capable of – but we’re different here in Pennsylvania because we know that people with disabilities make our communities stronger. That’s why I’ve been so focused on making sure Pennsylvanians with disabilities have the resources they need to succeed and thrive – and to live their lives on their own terms,” said Governor Shapiro. “Thanks to historic investments we’ve made, thousands of Pennsylvanians are now finally getting off the waitlist and into services, DSPs are earning higher wages, and vacancy rates among DSPs are at their lowest point in 10 years. This is real progress — and my Administration will keep working every day to ensure Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism have the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in the communities they call home.” “For years, the ID/A community and their loved ones have called out for help – and this Administration has delivered,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “The waitlist is shrinking, services are expanding, and DSPs are getting the wages they deserve. This is about dignity, independence, and opportunity – and we’re committed to continuing this progress.”

“Students should not have to choose between paying for their tuition and paying for groceries. Resource Centers like the one at Thaddeus Stevens are a vital part of the food assistance network and a lifeline for many to help them meet their basic needs,” said Hoa Pham, DHS Deputy Secretary for the Office of Income Maintenance. “I encourage students or any Pennsylvanian who needs help paying for food to apply for nutrition assistance benefits. Programs like SNAP provide extra support so that students can both pay for their education and stay nourished.”

It’s OK to not be OK. Help is available, and you are not alone! If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat: pa.gov/988. If you or a loved one is in need of substance use treatment or resources, contact the Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

Shapiro Administration Encourages Eligible Pennsylvania Families to Apply for SUN Bucks Summer Food Program Before August 31 Deadline: https://bit.ly/3JBIiSU “I urge all Pennsylvania families who believe they are eligible for SUN Bucks and have not received a payment yet to use our Eligibility Navigator and apply online by the August 31 deadline for Summer 2025 benefits,” said DHS Secretary Valerie Arkoosh, MD, MPH. “We are very excited to see that most eligible children have already received their funds through the automatic SUN Bucks payments, but we do not want a single child who is eligible for this program to not receive the money for food that they are entitled to.” Families can use the Eligibility Navigator to see if their children are automatically eligible or if they need to take action to apply by the August 31 deadline. SUN Bucks provides a one-time payment for households of $40 per summer month ($120 total) per eligible child. An estimated 1.3 million children in Pennsylvania qualify for this program which, is paid for by federal funds. dhs.pa.gov/sunbucks

Scam Alert Reminder: DHS will never call or text an individual to request personal information. Please report any texts or calls about DHS benefits that seem suspicious by calling the DHS fraud tip line at 1-844-DHS-TIPS (1-844-347-8477). Remember, new scams are being hatched all the time. Find tips to keep you and your accounts safe: dhs.pa.gov/scams Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General