Maryland Department Of Human Services

The Maryland Department of Human Services, a division of the State of Maryland operating as a U.S. state government entity, serves as a federal grant recipient administering formula and block grants from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture across child welfare, nutrition assistance, energy support, refugee resettlement, and family services in Maryland. The agency receives and distributes federal funding to eligible populations and regional partners statewide, with no federal contracting prime awardee footprint and minimal subcontractor engagement (3% of the 691-award portfolio).

The grant portfolio is heavily concentrated in HHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and USDA Food and Nutrition Service programs. ACF awards dominate the top customer rankings with 361 awards across multiple child welfare and family support programs, while FNS provides 202 awards focused on nutrition assistance administration and supplemental food programs. Over the past several years, Maryland DHS has received formula grants under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program ($909.1 million for FY 2026), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program ($155.9 million plus $5.1 million infrastructure supplement for FY 2026–2027), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program state administrative costs ($87.2 million for FY 2026) and employment-and-training components ($10.999 million operational plus $20.2 million additional SAE funding for FY 2026), Foster Care Title IV-E ($81.983 million), and Child Support Services ($265.205 million), among others. Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for children total $82 million (benefits plus $5.6 million administrative costs) for FY 2026. Child welfare programs including the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program ($8.807 million), Promoting Safe and Stable Families ($3.534 million plus $387 thousand caseworker visitation), and Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants ($1.922 million) represent ongoing five-year commitments. Refugee programs, including Refugee Support Services ($2.574 million) and Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance ($7.664 million), serve eligible populations through September 2028. Maryland DHS also distributes Adoption Assistance ($37.2 million), Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance ($6.245 million), Title IV-E Prevention Services ($18.3 million), Chafee Foster Care programs ($478 thousand education-and-training vouchers, $1.501 million transition support), Emergency Food Assistance Program administrative costs ($955 thousand plus $1.047 million for TEFAP administration), Commodity Supplemental Food Program ($357 thousand), and Social Services Block Grant ($70.911 million) funding. Recent awards include a $1.1 million Child Nutrition Technology Innovation Grant (CFDA 10.541) through September 2028 for automated information systems supporting child nutrition programs, and a $232 thousand Adult Protective Services formula grant (CFDA 93.698) through March 2028. A $500 thousand Cooperative Agreement under the U.S. Repatriation program (CFDA 93.579) funds emergency repatriation planning and training through March 2027.

Awards have remained flat at 34–36 per year from 2022 through 2025, with four awards documented in 2026 to date. Nineteen awards face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, creating recompete exposure across standing formula programs with October 2026 and September 2026 completion dates. Maryland DHS acts as a sub-recipient on grant awards from the National Children's Alliance and the Executive Office of the State of Maryland, distributing funds to county Child Advocacy Centers and child welfare service providers—including programs in Anne Arundel, Kent, Wicomico, Somerset, and Washington counties—for forensic interviews, victim advocacy, multidisciplinary team operations, and trauma-informed services to abuse and trafficking victims. As a prime recipient, Maryland DHS also engages in technical-assistance sub-contracts under the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors for the Coalition and Transformation Transfer Initiative Mental Health program (sub-awards in December 2023 and January 2025). All grant performance occurs in Maryland; the agency receives formula allocations determined by statutory distribution formulas rather than competitive application, with annual plan submissions and Children's Bureau or federal agency approval cycles governing continuation funding.