{{Independent sources|date=June 2022}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox government agency | name = Iowa Department of Health and Human Services | formed = 1937 | jurisdiction = [[Government of Iowa]] | headquarters = [[Des Moines, Iowa]], U.S. | chief1_name = Larry Johnson | chief1_position = Director }}
The '''Iowa Department of Health and Human Services''' is a state agency of Iowa that provides services relating to the [[Health in Iowa|health]] and well-being of Iowans.
== History == The Iowa Board of Social Welfare was founded in 1937 by the [[Iowa General Assembly]]. In 1967, it was merged with the Iowa Board of Control and Iowa Board of Parole to form the Iowa Department of Social Services. It was renamed the Iowa Department of Human Services in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RG 104 Human Services/Social Services|url=https://iowaculture.gov/history/research/collections/state-archives/rg-104-human-services-social-services|access-date=2021-09-20|website=IDCA|language=en}}</ref> In 2022, as part of Governor Reynold's State Agency Alignment initiative, the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Iowa Department of Public Health merged to form the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
== Functions == The agency provides human services, including healthcare services, assistance services, food programs, and disaster relief. The department also allows residents of Iowa to report incidents of fraud or abuse. The department also manages juvenile justice facilities and training schools in the state.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-08-08|title=Department of Human Services|url=https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/department-human-services|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Scott County, Iowa|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Home {{!}} Iowa Department of Human Services|url=https://dhs.iowa.gov/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=dhs.iowa.gov}}</ref> The department also operates the Child Support Recovery Unit.
After the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|2021 Fall of Kabul]] and subsequent formation of the [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]], the department was tasked with coordinating resettlement efforts for Afghan refugees.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-15|title=Iowa may receive 695 Afghan evacuees for resettlement|url=https://apnews.com/article/united-states-iowa-des-moines-cedar-rapids-5ad8f5b9f83f6f06f7165dd5fcd579f1|access-date=2021-09-20|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Iowa}} * [http://hhs.iowa.gov Iowa Department of Health and Human Services] ** "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104106/https://dhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/3-c.pdf State Juvenile Facilities]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104106/https://dhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/3-c.pdf Archive]) - May 11, 2007
{{Health departments in the United States}}
{{Incarceration of Juveniles in the United States}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:State agencies of Iowa]] [[Category:Juvenile detention centers in the United States]] [[Category:State corrections departments of the United States]] [[Category:State child welfare agencies of the United States]]