The National Association of Counties will hold its 30th Annual Workforce Development and Human Services Conference in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), Fla, Nov. 7–10.

The theme of this year’s conference is Investing in People…Investing in the Future. Sessions will focus on ways counties can provide their citizens — from the youngest to the oldest — with the services they need to meet the challenges of the future.

Nationally noted demographer, Harold “Bud “ Hodgkinson, director, Center for Demographic Policy in Washington, D.C., will kick off the conference with an in-depth look at how the nation’s changing demographics will directly affect the way counties deliver workforce development and human services programs in the years ahead. Other keynote speakers include National Public Radio commentator, Juan Williams, who will discuss the needs of at-risk children.

The conference will include more than 25 workshop sessions highlighting how counties have successfully dealt with such issues relating to workforce development, welfare reform, adult protective services, aging services, child protective services and child welfare. Specific sessions will include:

• Will amendments to the Workforce Investment Act really happen?
• What does reauthorization of TANF really mean for counties?
• leadership for high performance
• attracting and retaining county workers
• appointing the best workforce investment boards
• meeting the needs of an aging population, and
• providing access to health care for the working poor

This year’s conference is being held at the Fort Lauderdale Wyndham Bonaventure Hotel. The hotel has two 18-hole PGA-managed golf courses, an award-winning spa and is close to deep-sea fishing, airboating, jai-alai and the famous Sawgrass Mills outlet mall.

(For more information, see Registration Forum on p. 16, or visit NACO’s Web site: www.naco.org/events/work/index.cfm)