# Dominican Republic social welfare and state support > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-social-welfare-and-state-support > Updated: 2026-08-27T02:31:18.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. The Dominican Republic has implemented various social assistance initiatives, including the ‘Madres que Sostienen’ program led by the social assistance agency DASAC and community health outreach in San Juan de la Maguana. These efforts, involving partnerships between the Dominican Army and health services, provided medical consultations, medicines, and food rations to residents. However, reports indicate that families are increasingly forced to act as a makeshift welfare state to compensate for gaps in government support. Due to insufficient public schooling, childcare, and health insurance, citizens must personally fund essential services. This reliance on private resources is bolstered by over $10 billion in annual remittances, which function as a private tax to cover the absence of robust unemployment insurance, pensions, and other basic public services. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-27: Dominican Republic families fill gaps in state welfare Families in the Dominican Republic are functioning as an improvised welfare state, using personal funds and over $10 billion in annual remittances to cover essential services like health and education. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-families-fill-gaps-in-state-welfare ### 2026-08-02: Dominican Republic expands social aid with 'Madres que Sostienen' program and community health outreach Dominican Republic’s DASAC delivered aid to women in Paraíso while DGDC and the army provided health services in San Juan, reflecting President Luis Abinader’s push for expanded social assistance. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-expands-social-aid-with-madres-que-sostienen-program-and-community-health-outreac --- Cite as: Dominican Republic social welfare and state support. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-social-welfare-and-state-support