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NC Department of Health and Human Services
 
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About DHHS

The senior staff to the department are

  • Lanier M. Cansler, Secretary
  • Allen Feezor, Deputy Secretary for Health Services
  • Maria F. Spaulding, Deputy Secretary for Long-Term Care and Family Services (See also the Office of Long Term Services and Supports)
  • Dan Stewart, Assistant Secretary for Finance and Business Operations
  • Michael Watson, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services 
  • Linda Povlich, Senior Advisor

The Department is divided into 30 divisions and offices. DHHS divisions and offices fall under four broad service areas - health, human services, administrative, and support functions.

DHHS also oversees 18 facilities: mental retardation centers, psychiatric hospitals, alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers, schools, early intervention programs, and one special care center.

Some facts about NC DHHS:

  • The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the largest agency in state government, responsible for ensuring the health, safety and well being of all North Carolinians, providing the human service needs for fragile populations like the mentally ill, deaf, blind and developmentally disabled, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.
  • DHHS touches the lives of virtually every North Carolinian from birth to old age--prenatal programs, child development programs, and rest home regulations, are all part of DHHS charge.
  • DHHS has more than 19,000 employees. DHHS' operating budget is $14 billion. Three divisions account for most of the department's budget. $9.7 billion is housed in the Division of Medical Assistance. The Division of Social Services accounts for $1.2 billion. The Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services accounts for another $1.1 billion.

More detailed facts and figures for our divisions and offices are available on our Facts and Figures page. Program facts and figures are available in our Program Management Database.