American Samoa Government- Department Of Human And Social Services

American Samoa Government- Department Of Human And Social Services (DHSS) is a U.S. government entity operating as the territorial government agency responsible for delivering comprehensive social services, health programs, and community support initiatives to the approximately 50,000 residents of American Samoa. The department serves as the lead agency for multiple federal assistance programs, managing critical social welfare, child care, nutrition, and mental health services across the territory. Through its federal award activity, the DHSS functions as both a prime contractor and grant recipient, leveraging federal resources to address the unique social, health, and developmental needs of American Samoa's population, which is notably young with approximately 44 percent under age 24.

The DHSS has received federal contract awards to execute specialized regulatory and compliance functions on behalf of federal agencies. Most notably, the department received a $657,624 definitive contract from the Food and Drug Administration in February 2021 to conduct comprehensive inspections of retailers selling and advertising regulated tobacco products throughout American Samoa, with completion targeted for September 2025. This contract engagement demonstrates the DHSS's capacity to execute compliance monitoring and regulatory enforcement activities in support of federal public health objectives, specifically enforcing the Tobacco Control Act within the territory. The contract carries no set-aside designation and represents the department's ability to leverage its local regulatory authority to support federal agency missions.

The DHSS has established itself as a substantial recipient of federal grant funding across multiple funding agencies and program categories, reflecting its critical role in delivering essential services to American Samoa. The department currently manages numerous formula and block grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), with multiple awards totaling approximately $2.76 million for fiscal 2026 covering food expenses, administrative costs, and program support. Additionally, the DHSS administers major child care grants from the Office of Child Care, including a substantial $7.9 million Child Care and Development Block Grant discretionary award and multiple Child Care and Development Fund territorial mandatory formula grants supporting affordable, quality child care services for low-income families. The department also receives significant support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for mental health and substance abuse services, including block grants for community mental health services and a specialized 988 Crisis Response project grant addressing suicide prevention and mental health emergency response, alongside project grants targeting opioid response and stimulant use disorder treatment. The DHSS manages Social Services Block Grant awards from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families supporting broad social services delivery, child nutrition formula grants, and developmental disability programs administered through the Administration on Aging. These grants collectively support the department's mission to provide essential services in child welfare, mental health, nutrition assistance, family violence prevention, substance abuse treatment, and community support programs tailored to meet the territory's specific demographic and health needs.