DHHS Directive Number II-25

Title:	Delegation of Authority to the Director, Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
Effective Date:	January 1, 2002
Authority:	G.S.143B-10, G.S.130A-33.43, G.S.130A-33.44

Purpose

The purpose of this Directive is to delegate, clarify and specifically confirm the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. These authorities are delegated under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities will report to the Secretary through the Assistant Secretary for Health.

Delegation of Authority

As provided in G.S. 143B-10(a), the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services delegates the following functions and responsibilities concerning the management and administration to the Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, subject to state and departmental policy:

1. The functions of management, related to the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, as defined in G.S. 143B-10 which include: planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting and budgeting.



2. The functions of management for the Minority Health Advisory Council, which includes providing support staff to the Council and acting as chief consultant to the Council. The Council shall advise the Governor, Secretary, Assistant Secretary for Health, and all divisions of the Department on issues of importance to the Council.



3. The authority to develop policies to address the health status gap between minorities and the general population.



4. Collaborate with other divisions, state and federal agencies, local health departments, community-based organizations, community colleges and other colleges and universities, and other public/private health organizations to facilitate the abolishment of health disparities.



5. Provide training, consultation, technical assistance, information dissemination and partnership development.



6. Prepare evaluations of barriers or issues affecting the disparity gap.



7. Advise the Assistant Secretary for Health and the State Health Director on issues pertaining or related to minority health or health disparities.



8. The Director shall be responsible for coordinating the Division's monitoring functions with other divisions and local partners to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.



9. The Director shall be responsible for ensuring that the Division is familiar with and adheres to the Department's Policy and Procedures Manual.

The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities will continue to receive administrative and budget assistance from the Division of Public Health.

This delegation of authority shall not deprive the Secretary from performing, in lieu of the Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, any of the acts set forth above. This delegation of authority may be amended or withdrawn by the Secretary at any time and without notice. This delegation of authority shall not apply to any actions which by law, state policy, or Governor's Executive Order, may only be executed by the Secretary.

	APPROVED
	__________________________
	Carmen Hooker Odom, Secretary
	Department of Health and Human Services