Director's Office

About the Maricopa County Human Services Department

Maricopa County is the 4th most populous county in the nation with over 4.3 million people, residing in 24 cities, towns, and unincorporated areas covering 9,224 square miles. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is the governing body for the County; and appoints the County Manager who oversees County functions and is responsible for the operations of over 40 County departments, including the Maricopa County Human Services Department.

The Maricopa County Human Services Department (HSD) provides a wide array of services in Maricopa County for vulnerable populations and persons with barriers, including low-income families, persons seeking employment opportunities, and communities in need. Five program divisions are responsible for coordinating and delivering services for the most vulnerable in the County.

HSD’s Office of the Director provides leadership, vision, and policy direction to these program divisions and the HSD as a whole.

The Administration, Policy, and Planning Division supports the program Divisions through services provided by its five units. The Finance Unit provides financial and compliance functions, including budget development and oversight; accounting; payroll; and financial compliance. The Human Resources Unit supports the Department’s employees, addressing recruitment, onboarding, classification, and compliance. The Contracts Unit develops and maintains HSD’s contracts as well as coordinates procurement. The IT Unit supports technology users through the maintenance of computer hardware and business applications. The Policy & Planning Unit develops and provides oversight of HSD’s strategic policy analysis and strategic planning.
 
The targeted geographic coverage of HSD’s major programs is based on specific State, Federal, or contracted service area assignments. HSD provides leadership countywide and fosters major system regional collaborations and partnerships to improve access to coordinated and comprehensive human services. Partnerships are key to the work the Department does; in FY 2016, HSD had formal partnerships with 116 organizations, many of which represented collaborations on multiple programs and projects.

As a mission-driven organization, the Human Services Department developed five goals for FY 2016 to support and enhance the services the Department delivers to the community.

To create greater awareness, ensure community involvement, and create linkages between programs, the Department established key cross-cutting initiatives focused on Smart Justice, regionalism, and homelessness. In addition, HSD has formal advisory boards (Head Start Policy Council, Workforce Development Board, Community Development Advisory Council, HOME Consortium, Community Services Commission) and convenes partners to address critical human services issues.
 
Employee engagement was measured in FY 2016; the results showed that nearly 90% of HSD staff were engaged or highly engaged. To further increase employee engagement, Divisions utilized such methods as discussion groups, team-building exercises, and professional development.

The success in achieving these goals and all of the Division’s accomplishments build a foundation in which the Maricopa County Human Services Department can achieve the vision for all Maricopa County residents to have equal access to opportunities to improve their lives.

Leadership

The Maricopa County Human Services Department (HSD) provides a comprehensive array of quality services in Maricopa County for vulnerable populations and persons with barriers, including low-income families, persons seeking employment opportunities, and communities in need.