Georgia Department of Human Services

Profile narrative

The Georgia Department of Human Services (GDHS) is the state agency responsible for delivering a range of social and economic assistance programs to residents of Georgia. Its core functions include administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Medicaid eligibility determinations. The agency also oversees child protective services, foster care, and adoption programs aimed at safeguarding vulnerable children and families. In addition, GDHS provides services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and low‑income households through various support initiatives. These activities are carried out under the authority of the Georgia state government to promote health, safety, and self‑sufficiency among its citizens.

GDHS operates as a department within the executive branch of the Georgia state government, with its headquarters located in the United States. As a state agency, it coordinates with county offices and community partners to extend its reach across the state’s 159 counties. The agency’s workforce consists of civil servants who implement policy directives and manage service delivery systems. While specific employee counts or budget figures are not provided in the source material, the department’s statewide presence is evident from its role in handling benefit programs and child welfare cases.

Distinguishing attributes of GDHS include its regulatory oversight of the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system used for SNAP benefits, which places it at the intersection of public assistance and financial technology security. The agency has demonstrated incident response capabilities, as seen in its handling of a 2025 bot‑driven cyberattack on a contractor’s interactive voice response system and a 2020 email breach affecting Child Protective Services data. These events highlight GDHS’s responsibility for protecting sensitive personal and health information while administering large‑scale benefit programs. As a state department, GDHS does not have a private parent or subsidiary; it is directly accountable to the Governor of Georgia and the state legislature.

Incidents

2 incidents linked to this organisation.