From the Secretary’s Desk

Audits rarely elicit smiles. But today I received good news regarding an annual federal government audit of DHR’s Child Support Enforcement Administration. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recently completed a Data Reliability Review of Maryland’s performance i

Each March, as we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s my honor to take part in the induction ceremony for the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. This annual event honors Maryland women who have made unique and lasting contributions to the economic, political, cultural and social l

DHR is fortunate to have community partners that help us assist vulnerable children and adults.  Maryland Hunger Solutions (MHS) is one of those partners and a critical part of our shared fight to eliminate poverty and hunger in Maryland. Director Cathy Demeroto from MHS was kind enou

March is National Social Work Appreciation Month. This is a great opportunity to recognize our dedicated team of social workers. This year’s national theme highlights the fact that resilience and advocacy are primary tools for social workers. As executive director of the Social

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy last October, thousands of Marylanders were forced to leave their homes and seek emergency shelter. Many stayed with friends and family until power was restored or sought refuge in hotels. For those who had nowhere else to turn, DHR, through the loc

In 2010, DHR’s food stamp error rate _ a key measure of our ability to provide quality customer service _ had ballooned to an unacceptable 7.68 percent. Maryland ranked dead last among the 50 states, and as a result the department was placed into sanction status by the USDA, which adm

We recently closed out the 2012 Maryland Combined Charities campaign pledge drive. Though we are only the fourth largest state agency, once again DHR employees lead all participating state departments in giving. I am proud of you all and appreciate everyone who contributed to making 2

One of the perks of being a member of the governor’s cabinet is that you are assigned a pretty good seat for the annual State of the State address in Annapolis. Gov. Martin O’Malley’s speech yesterday recapped many of the administration’s top accomplishments while outlining an aggress

Today I had the privilege of meeting Whitney Boston. Whitney chose to leave foster care when she turned 18, which was her legal right. But she struggled to live independently. Realizing she wasn’t yet ready, she voluntarily returned to foster care through DHR’s Enhanced Af

The last four years have been tough for many Maryland individuals and families. A record number of households in need have turned to DHR for help with medical assistance, putting food on the table or paying the heating bill. Yet despite the increased workload this caused, our dedicate

Happy New Year, everyone! This Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., be sure to tune in to Baltimore’s WBAL TV (Channel 11). I’ll be appearing live in studio to recap 2012, which was a terrific year for our department. More and more Marylanders have turned to the government for hel

Happy Holidays to everyone!  This front-page story in today’s Baltimore Sun is particularly fitting for this time of year and showcases some of the progress that we are making with the kids in our care. Please check it out when you get a moment. The article highlights the tremendous p

As we celebrate the holidays with family and friends, I want to thank all DHR employees for the extraordinary dedication and commitment they have shown in helping make this a record-breaking year at DHR. Through their individual contributions, we have met and surpassed many of our age

It’s all too easy to look at a monthly or annual report and reasonably conclude, hey, we’re doing a pretty good job.  For example, last year, DHR’s Child Support Enforcement Administration, or CSEA, collected and dispersed a record $544 million in child support to families. This was a

Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining the Center For Urban Families (CFUF) and Chairman of the Board David Warnock for the Responsible Fatherhood Football Brunch & Forum.  I brought along my brother, and we really enjoyed spending time with some 30 Baltimore fathers and their so