A Department of Human Services (DHS) or Ministry of Human Services (MHS) is a national or subnational umbrella agency which is responsible for providing public assistance programs to the population they serve. Various aspects or alternate names include social security, social affairs, human resources and welfare. A social affairs department is often combined with the portfolio of health or labor. Examples Some examples include: Albania — Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Australia — Australia Department of Human Services — Department of Human Services (South Australia) Canada — Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Ontario — Ministry of Community and Social Services Colombia — Ministry of Social Protection (Colombia) Croatia — Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Ministry of the Family, Veterans' Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity Denmark — Ministry of Social Affairs Guyana — Ministry of Labour Human Services and Social Security Iceland — Ministry of Welfare India — Ministry of Tribal Affairs Indonesia – Ministry of Social Affairs Ireland — Department of Social Protection Japan — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Lebanon — Ministry of Social Affairs Netherlands — Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment New Zealand — Ministry of Social Development People's Republic of China — Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Hong Kong — Labour and Welfare Bureau Philippines — Department of Social Welfare and Development Portugal — Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity Saint Lucia — Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs & Gender Relations Sweden — Ministry of Health and Social Affairs United Kingdom — Department for Work and Pensions Northern Ireland — Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety United States — United States Department of Health and Human Services Hawaii — Hawaii Department of Human Services Illinois — Illinois Department of Human Services Michigan — Michigan Department of Human Services North Carolina — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Oklahoma — Oklahoma Department of Human Services Oregon — Oregon Department of Human Services Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Vermont — Vermont Agency of Human Services References Lists of government ministries