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 2026-2027
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
Land use rule tweaks help counties add housing
Orange County, Fla. is working to develop affordable housing on land owned by religious institutions and Fairfax County, Va. is exploring co-locating its libraries with affordable housing.
Federal agency partnership creates new emergency alert for missing persons with autism
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. announced the development of the National Autism and Endangered Person Alert Initiative.
USPS releases its final rule affecting mail-in voting for federal elections
The USPS released its final rule imposing new requirements on how state and local governments must administer mail-in voting, including new ballot envelope requirements and the creation of a national portal of mail-in voter data.
U.S. Forest Service begins revision process for regulations on road and trail closure in National Forests
On August 21, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced it is moving forward with plans to revise the 2005 Travel Management Rule, which regulates how USFS plans which roads and trails are open to the public. Revising the Travel Management Rule is an important step that will increase public access to National Forests and help connect forest communities. As part of the rulemaking process, USFS is seeking public comment on its proposed revisions. Counties have until September 23 to submit comments on the agency’s initial action.
Congress passes short-term funding bill, keeping the federal government funded through Dec. 11 and delaying OMB rule
The U.S. Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend government funding through December 11 and delay the OMB proposed rule on Unform Guidance that governs how every federal grant can be administered.
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
Join a NACo Committee
Join a committee and make a difference. Learn more about getting involved with NACo.