NACo presidents select critical issues for counties to address during their one-year terms.
This year, NACo President Chris Rodgers has launched three key initiatives:
Smart Justice -- A national initiative to highlight “smart” justice policies and practices.The goals of the initiative are to further build knowledge and capacity for successful justice policies and practices among the nation’s counties. Issues to be explored include pre-trial services, post-release service coordination, justice and mental health collaboration, supportive housing, and employment.
Next Generation NACo Network -- The Next Generation Network will provide a grassroots forum for young county officials to network, become engaged in NACo and develop a new generation of association leaders. The network will identify and serve the unique educational and professional development needs of young officials, and draw on the talent, ideas and expertise of young officials to inform NACo’s strategic plan and programs and services for the future.
Promote Cybersecurity -- County government networks are increasingly becoming a target for hackers. To deal with these threats, President Rodgers has appointed a Cybersecurity Task Force to promote cybersecurity awareness and education and disseminate information regarding services and programming from federal partners directly to county government policy makers and IT professionals.