Dennis Streets, who led the Division of Aging as director for eight years, retired April 30, 2014 before a room full of friends and coworkers and with his wife Dawn at his side. DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos presented Streets with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and his retirement certificate.

In a career that began in 1978 as a social researcher in aging at the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Sociology, examining the role of parish ministry in service to elderly, Streets stayed true to his passion.

He served as coordinator of the Center for Aging Research and Educational Services and Clinical Instructor at the Jordan Institute for Families of the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill, from 1990-1996. He was chief of Planning, Budget and Systems Support for the Division of Aging and Adult Services from 1996 until he was named division director.

Streets Is the recipient of the 2012 Presidential Award of the N.C. Association on Aging, the 2008 Jim Long Outstanding SHIIP Service Award from the N.C. department of Insurance, the 2007 Jane Kennedy Excellence in Aging Award of the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and the 2000 Executive Leader of the Year Award of the N.C. Association on Aging.