North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is a large government agency in the U.S. state of North Carolina, somewhat analogous to the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The DHHS has more than 19,000 employees. It is headed by a Secretary (see below), who is appointed by the governor.
Among its divisions are:
- Division of Social Services
- Division of Public Health
- Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services
- Division of Medical Assistance (most well known for the Medicaid program)
The DHHS has its origins in the former North Carolina Department of Human Resources (DHR). The DHR was created in 1971 as an umbrella to consolidate what had been more than 300 free-standing state agencies. The first Secretary of Human Resources, Dr. Lenox Baker, was appointed by Governor Robert W. Scott.
The Division of Public Health, an original part of the department, was taken out of the DHR in 1989. Most of its functions were transferred back to the DHR in 1997, when the agency was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services.
List of secretaries
- Lenox D. Baker, 1972-1973
- David T. Flaherty, 1973-1976
- Phillip J. Kirk, Jr., 1976-1977
- Sarah T. Morrow, 1977-1985
- Lucy H. Bode, 1985
- Phillip J. Kirk, Jr., 1985-1987
- Paul Kayye, 1987
- David T. Flaherty, 1987-1993
- Charles Robin Britt, 1993-1997
- H. David Bruton, 1997-2000
- Carmen Hooker Odom, 2001-2007
- Dempsey Benton, 2007-2009
- Lanier Cansler, 2009-2012
- Albert Delia, 2012-2013 (acting)
- Aldona Wos, 2013-2015
- Rick Brajer, 2015-present
