What types of local public health agencies presently exist in North Carolina?
North Carolina law defines five types of local public health agencies:
- County health department
- District health department (multi-county)
- Public health authority (single-county or multi-county)
- Consolidated human services agency
- Public hospital authority
Any county may operate a county health department, participate in a multi-county district health department, or establish a public health authority. A county with a county manager appointed pursuant to G.S. 153A-81 may provide public health services through a consolidated human services agency. The fifth type—public hospital authority—is available only to Cabarrus county. Each type of agency is captured in the generic term "local health department."[1]
The mix of types of local public health agencies in North Carolina is in the process of changing as a result of 2012 legislation authorizing more consolidated human services agencies. The table below shows the number of each type that existed on July 1, 2012 and on March 1, 2013. It is expected the numbers in the right-hand column will continue to change.
Type of local public health agency | Number in North Carolina | |
| July 1 2012 | March 1 2013 |
County health department | 75 | 68 |
District health department (multi-county) | 6* | 6* |
Public health authority (single- or multi-county) | 1 | 1 |
Consolidated human services agency including public health | 2 | 9 |
Public hospital authority providing local public health services | 1 | 1 |
* The six district health departments cover 21 North Carolina counties.
An up-to-date map showing the types of LPHAs in North Carolina is maintained on the School of Government’s website. Click here and scroll down to the heading Local Public Health Agencies.
[1]. G.S. 130A-2(5) (defining "local health department" as "a district health department or a public health authority or a county health department); 130A-43 (giving consolidated human services agencies the responsibility to carry out the duties of a local health department); 153A-77(b) (authorizing boards of county commissioners to create consolidated human services agencies that include public health). Cabarrus county provides public health services pursuant to an uncodified state law that authorizes a hospital authority to provide local public health services. S.L. 1997-502, sec. 12. The Cabarrus Health Alliance exercises the legal powers and duties of a local health department.
