Social Services and Public Health: The Role of the Board of Commissioners

North Carolina counties play a central role in administering social services and public health programs at the local level. This book focuses on the role of the board of commissioners in shaping and overseeing these systems. It introduces the legal framework governing county departments of social services and health departments, explains the board of commissioners’ responsibilities, and outlines the organizational models authorized under North Carolina law. It also examines how local agencies operate within North Carolina’s county-administered, state-supervised systems and coordinate with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Intended for county officials, managers, attorneys, board members, and public administrators, this resource guides boards of commissioners in administering local human services systems. The appendixes include charts summarizing governance structures for social services and public health boards, along with recommended readings on related topics.

See the Local Government Board Builders Series webpage for other books in the series and related School of Government publications.