Alaska Department of Health and Social Services

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (ADHSS) is the state agency responsible for delivering health and social services to residents of Alaska. It administers the state Medicaid program, providing health coverage to low‑income individuals and families. The department oversees public health initiatives, including disease prevention, immunization campaigns, and emergency preparedness. It manages behavioral health services, offering mental health and substance use disorder treatment across the state. Additionally, ADHSS runs child welfare programs, such as the Office of Children’s Services, which protects vulnerable youth and supports foster care.

As a state government entity, ADHSS holds regulatory authority over health care providers, social service agencies, and related facilities operating in Alaska. Its distinguishing role includes coordinating federal health programs, such as Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, with state‑level services. The agency is recognized for its focus on serving geographically remote and underserved communities throughout the state’s vast terrain. Notable competencies include data management for health statistics, grant administration for community health projects, and crisis response coordination. In July 2017, the department experienced a malware infection affecting two computers in its Office of Children’s Services, potentially exposing personal information of over 500 individuals and prompting immediate mitigation efforts.