Maryland Department of Human Services

Thank you to everyone who continues to do this work so that every Marylander feels protected, respected, and seen.
In moments of uncertainty, our values matter even more. Dignity. Fairness. Opportunity. Justice.

Maryland and American flags atop State House

The Maryland Flag was lowered to half-staff today in honor of Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Reverend Jackson was a giant of the civil rights movement and a champion for the dignity of working people. We thank him for his service to our country.

Maryland SNAP recipients face new, tougher work requirements 4MyCity will have people in line for food at almost any hour during the weekday, a trend that isn't slowing down, according to the organization's founder.

Veterans, adults ages 55-64, former foster youth, and others must provide proof that they are working, volunteering, or participating in job training for at least 20 hours per week to keep SNAP benefits. Visit MarylandBenefits.gov.

Learn more:

#HR1 #Maryland

"We think there's going to be a tremendous impact of the Trump Administration's law," said #TeamDHS Larry Handerhan.

#HR1 #Maryland

The Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit are two of the most important tools we have to lift families out of poverty. If we want this to be Maryland’s Decade, we need to ensure everyone has a real pathway to success. I know the folks in Washington, D.C. seem to have different types of priorities and different things that are keeping their attention Maryland is going to prove there is a better way

The Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit are two of the most important tools we have to lift families out of poverty. If we want this to be Maryland’s Decade, we need to ensure everyone has a real pathway to success. I know the folks in Washington, D.C. seem to have different types of priorities and different things that are keeping their attention Maryland is going to prove there is a better way

The Earned It Initiative helps connect Maryland families with the information they need to claim the money they’ve earned – and Comptroller Lierman’s leadership has been critical in getting this program to succeed.

Visit MarylandComptroller.gov/EarnedIT to check your eligibility, then claim.

Maryland Offers Support as Trump Administration’s New SNAP Work Requirements Begin to Impact Customers this March - DHS News Media Contact: March 3, 2026 Lilly Price, Press Secretary lillian.price@maryland.gov Phone: 443-965-1265 Maryland Offers Support as Trump Administration’s New SNAP Work Requirements Begin to Impact Customers this March Residents are... Read more »

An important update about SNAP:

Due to federal rules, more adults who receive SNAP must now provide proof of employment or at least 20 hours of job training or volunteering per week to keep their benefits.

Learn more about this change at:

#SNAP

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday. The Storm Operations Center and highway crews will be reporting at midnight tonight to monitor road and travel conditions.
Snow portal: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/snow/
Montgomery County (MD) Department of Transportation

Need help with your energy utility bills?

Hear from Director Rigel Moore, from the Office of Home Energy Programs, on how you can access up to $600 in extra crisis assistance by applying at MarylandBenefits.gov.

You are not alone. Caring call specialists available 24/7. Call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org.

More people are turning to 988 for support when they experience depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, and drug or alcohol use. Last year, 988 handled 157,712 calls, texts and chats in Maryland — a 27% increase. Learn how 988 can help you or someone you love: 988.maryland.gov.

We are excited to launch our new "Meet Team DHS" video series!

First up: Interim Secretary Gloria Brown Burnett. Hear how her own lived experience and 14 years of community leadership at the Prince George's County Department of Social Services impact her work today.

#PSA #MeetTeamDHS

Foster Youth Employment at Age 21 Recovers From Pandemic-era Dip - Child Trends

Despite the barriers young people in foster care often experience around finding and keeping jobs, new data from @childtrends.bsky.social shows that nearly 60% of foster youth were employed at the age of 21.

When the cold sets in, Marylanders don’t have to face it alone The winter storm that hit Maryland late last month brought a punishing nine-day cold snap with wind chills dipping into the single-digits. During these spells of frosty weather, many of

Struggling with utility bills? You don't have to face the cold alone.

#TeamDHS Rigel Moore’s Frederick News-Post article reminds us that Maryland’s One Application is the fastest way to get help with heating, electric, and past-due balances.

Read more & apply:

#OHEP #Assistance

A red grocery basket filled with fresh produce sits below text announcing that H.R. 1 (2025) is changing SNAP benefits and requirements for Marylanders.

Did you know? Our SNAP program feeds 680,000+ Marylanders every month, including nearly 270,000 children.

With the signing of H.R. 1, important changes are here to eligibility and work requirements that may affect your benefits.

Learn more: dhs.maryland.gov/important-ch....

#HR1 #Maryland

New work requirements could kick thousands off SNAP starting next month - Maryland Matters The first wave of Marylanders who cannot prove they are working at least 20 hours a week could start losing their monthly food assistance by the end of this month under new federal rules.

“March would be the first month when SNAP customers newly subject to work requirements may lose access if they are unable to meet them,” according to #TeamDHS Press Secretary Lillian Price.

#SNAP #WorkRequirement

The safety of Marylanders comes first and this storm has the potential to produce life-threatening conditions across large parts of Maryland.

Please stay off the roads, check on your neighbors, listen to local authorities, and take this storm seriously to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Laila’s Gift and The Maryland Commission on Caregiving Laila's Gift and the Maryland Commission on Caregiving, share a mission to support caregivers statewide. A new Commission’s mandate could better support family caregivers across the state.

“Laila's Gift and the Maryland Commission on Caregiving, share a mission to support caregivers statewide. A new Commission’s mandate could better support family caregivers across the state,” as stated in this WMAR-TV News article.

Learn more:

#Caregivers

Governor Wes Moore and First Lady Dawn Moore are standing with a group of children.

Maryland is prioritizing family connections and economic support to end child poverty:

✅ Nearly 270,000 children reached by SNAP.
✅ Approximately 630,000 children fed via SUN Bucks in 2025.

Learn more: priorities.maryland.gov/pages/childp....

#Maryland #EndChildPoverty

This photo is a graphic image of the students served through our state’s SUN Bucks program.

Through #SUNBucks, Maryland cut red tape to feed more children:

✅ 630,000+ students served in 2025.
✅ $75.5M in SUN Bucks benefits issued in 2025.
✅ 99% of children who received SUN Bucks were enrolled automatically.

See the impact: governor.maryland.gov/priorities/s....

#EndingHunger

Graphic that reads: “Paid Summer Fellowship in the government & nonprofit sectors. Applications due March 1st. Learn more and apply at http://publicservicescholars.umbc.edu.”

🚨 Applications are due in TWO WEEKS for the Maryland Public Service Scholars programs!

These 10 to 11-week-long paid internships will help make you part of our mission to build a Maryland that leaves no one behind.

Apply at go.md.gov/SummerInternship

A graphic that highlights the percentage of youth in out-of-home care placed with kin.

Maryland is proving that kinship matters when #FamilyMatters.

Children thrive when they stay with family.

✅ 330+ more children in care are living with family.
✅ 33% increase in the kin placement rate.

See our progress: governor.maryland.gov/priorities/s....

211. Maryland Information Network. Find local help. 211MD.org.

From food to health care, 211 can guide you to local resources and support. Connect with nearby community groups who can help: 211md.org/.

Maryland Deploys New Technology to Connect More Children in Foster Care with Family - DHS News Media Contact: Feb 11, 2026 Lilly Price Press Secretary lillian.price@maryland.gov Maryland Deploys New Technology to Connect More Children in Foster Care with Family New Partnership Builds on Success of Landmark... Read more »

Click here for more info about our new partnership with Binti.

#KinshipCare #Partnership

See how #TeamDHS and Binti are partnering to give Maryland caseworkers the tools they need to reunite children with their family quickly.

Here’s what the Social Services Administration’s (SSA) Chief of Staff, Angelique Salizan, has to say.

#KinshipCare #Partnership

Secretary Rafael López posing for a photo with Secretary Serena McIlwain, Special Secretary Carmel Martin, Secretary Kevin Atticks, and Secretary Josh Kurtz inside the Maryland State House for the State of the State address.

Secretary Rafael López joined Secretary Serena McIlwain, Special Secretary Carmel Martin, Secretary Kevin Atticks, and Secretary Josh Kurtz for @govwesmoore.bsky.social’s State of the State address!

It’s a great day in Annapolis as we work together to serve Maryland families.

#StateOfTheState

More than 680,000 Marylanders could see their food assistance taken away – including seniors, veterans, and children.

Washington is using this moment to attack, limit, and retreat.

𝙄𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙮𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩, 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙.

𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙮𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝘼𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚.

In just the last year, the federal government has fired around 25,000 Marylanders who have federal jobs in our state.

The President’s domestic policy agenda could kick up to 180,000 Marylanders off health care.

As Joanna shared, a strong support network is vital because kinship care can test even the strongest relationships. But the journey is worth every challenge.

#KinshipCare

This is a graphic for the "Protecting Civil Rights During Challenging Times" Symposium of 2026.

In honor of African American History Month, join us at Bowie State University on Saturday, Feb 21, from 9 AM – 3 PM for the "Protecting Civil Rights During Challenging Times" Symposium!

Learn more: mccr.maryland.gov/Pages/Events....

#CommunitySupport #Bowie

Our #TeamDHS outreach team is showing up and showing out at the Community Food Pantry in Baltimore.

Organizers and staff are setting up for the Community Food Pantry event in Baltimore.

Great day at the Salem United Methodist Church!

We joined the Baltimore City Department of Public Works to serve 85+ neighbors. We helped 70 people with benefit info, and our giveaway bags were a hit!

Missed us? Email dhs.ocxoutreach@maryland.gov for upcoming events.

#CommunitySupport

A #TeamDHS staff member places a sticky note on a "Family Matters" sign during the Legal Partnership Convening (Family Matters).

A #TeamDHS staff member looks at their colleagues during the Legal Partnership Convening (Family Matters).

The @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social tool, “Ten Ways to Transform Youth Justice,” is out!

We’re proud to share that #TeamDHS is featured as a best practice for our Family Team Decision Meeting process.

Check it out: www.aecf.org/blog/a-new-p....

#YouthJustice #AnnieECaseyFoundation