North Carolina has a Federally Mandated, State Supervised, County Administered Social Services System. This means the Federal Government authorizes national programs and a majority of the funding. The State Government provides oversight and support, but it is the local County Department of Social Services that delivers the services and benefits to the residents of that County.

In North Carolina, the single administrative agency is the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This agency has separated into Divisions such as: Division of Medical Assistance; Division of Child Development; Division of Facility Services; Division of Aging and Adult Services; and the Division of Social Services; all of which provide training and consultation for staff who work in the local Departments of Social Services providing services to clients.