Did you know that the Department of Health and Human Services provides programs and services that touch just about every resident of North Carolina at some point in their life? Divisions and Offices across DHHS have compiled interesting facts and trivia about health and human services that are provided to North Carolina residents. Review this amazing information. Did you Know?

Based on data from the American Foundation for the Blind, someone in America will become blind or visually impaired every seven minutes. Leading causes of vision impairment and blindness in the US are primarily age-related eye diseases. The number of Americans with age-related eye diseases is expected to double within the next three decades. Age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are the four leading eye diseases affecting older Americans.

Compared to other states, North Carolina has one of the highest rates of working mothers with young children in the nation.

According to the report on The Economic Impact of the Child Care Industry in North Carolina, the child care industry directly supports more than 46,000 jobs, putting it on par with public elementary school teachers and all building construction in the state.

According to the report on The Economic Impact of the Child Care Industry in North Carolina, the child care industry generates $1.5 billion annually in gross receipts, and more than the scientific research and development and wireless telecommunications industries.

The Office of Citizen Services and the CARE-LINE has a database of over 10,000 agencies and programs to assist North Carolinians with their needs. Services are offered in both English and Spanish.

Approximately 320,000 North Carolinians received mental health, substance abuse, or developmental disabilities services from the state's community programs or state institutions in State Fiscal Year 2002-2003.

North Carolina ranked fourth nationally in the increase of the number of persons age 65 and older between the years 2000 and 2003. As of 2004, more than 1 million North Carolinians are at least 65 years of age.

Heart disease and stroke are responsible for almost twice as many deaths among women as ALL cancers combined. Yet when asked about their health concerns, women typically cite breast cancer as their greatest health concern.

North Carolina is part of the "Stroke Belt" - and that eastern North Carolina has some of the highest stroke death rates in the nation, resulting in this part of the state being called the "buckle" of the Stroke Belt!

For more information on heart disease and stroke and how to prevent them, visit www.startwithyourheart.com

Hearing loss does not discriminate against age! Though it is closely associated with the aging process, people of all ages can possess a hearing loss. In addition to the aging process, genetics, certain medications taken, and various diseases such as diabetes can cause hearing loss. In NC, over 614,000 persons aged 18 to 64 have some form of hearing loss. Another 2% are aged birth to 17. That places a large portion of the population directly in the working world, possibly sitting right at the desk next to our own.

Two(2) out of 5 people over age 65 have diabetes or pre-diabetes; this represents approximately 400,000 people over 65 with diabetes and pre-diabetes in North Carolina.

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services assisted 8,757 North Carolina citizens with disabilities return to the workforce during 2002-2003.

North Carolina has 158 Senior Centers in 95 counties. Senior Centers serve as community focal points for older adults and their families, offering a broad spectrum of services, which include health, social, nutritional, and educational services, along with recreation activities.

Arthritis is a leading cause of work disabilities, second only to heart disease. Arthritis causes up to $1 billion in lost wages each year for the state of North Carolina.

Arthritis is NOT a normal part of the aging process. Arthritis affects people in all age groups in the United States including as many as 285,000 children