About Us

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders.

The Department also promotes public health through the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers through the licensing division. DHHS is the largest executive branch department in Maine, employing over 3,000 people across the state.

The Department strives to ensure that:

  • Maine children grow up in safe, healthy, and supportive environments, allowing them to thrive throughout their lives.
  • All adults have the opportunity to work, live with independence, and have good health.
  • Older Mainers live with dignity in the place that balances their needs and preferences.

To learn more about who we serve, visit the DHHS By the Numbers Dashboard.