Human Services & Education Policy Steering Committee
About the Committee
All matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
Policy Platform & Resolutions 2025-2026
Every county in the U.S. administers and funds part of the cost of strengthening communities and protecting and enhancing families. The NACo Human Services & Education Steering Committee exists to support counties in this work.
Featured Initiative
Early Childhood Development Initiative
Counties play a crucial role in fostering communities that support positive outcomes for young children. Resources and peer learning opportunities are available to help counties advance programs and policies for children from birth to age three.
Resource
County Policy Priorities for Transforming the Child Welfare System
U.S. EPA announces nearly $250 million in FY 2026 Brownfields program grants
On June 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the distribution of nearly $250 million in funding for the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup grant program. The grants flowed to more than 190 state and local government recipients around the country to support redevelopment and renewal projects on brownfield sites.
NACo endorses bipartisan legislation to reform agricultural workforce program
On June 30, House Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.-15), along with 49 co-sponsors, including Reps. Don Davis (D-N.C.-01) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.-04), introduced the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 (H.R.9535).
Mutual aid network joins county and municipalities to assess damage
Waukesha County, Wis. has pooled, trained and coordinated staff from its municipalities to deploy after a disaster and start the recovery process.
Salute to county leaders: Jim Willox
Converse County, Wyo. Commissioner Jim Willox found a lot in common with his urban county colleagues when he led the Transportation Policy Steering Committee.
Comments due July 13 for new OMB rule touching all counties
Counties everywhere are facing fundamental changes in the intergovernmental relationship how the federal government administers grants. Comments on a proposed OMB rule are dule by 11:59 ET July 13.
DEA announces temporary scheduling of synthetic kratom substances
On July 1, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) filed two Notices of Intent to temporarily place highly concentrated and synthetic kratom-related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Additionally, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) issued a Request for Information seeking public comment on scientific data on the proposed threshold level.
Resource
The County Human Services and Education Landscape
Human Services & Education Policy Briefs
Committee Chair
View all committee members here.
Hon. Barb Weckman Brekke
Committee Contact
Emma Conover
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