Transforming Human Services Initiative
Every day, counties provide services that help vulnerable individuals and families thrive, functioning as an integral part of the federal, state and local partnership in human service delivery. Counties are responsible for shaping policies and systems driving public human services programs such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), childcare assistance, housing and homelessness and child welfare programs.
- Every year, counties invest $62.8 billion in federal, state and local resources and employ 259,000 human services workers to provide safety net services for millions of residents.
- Additionally, counties spend $103 billion annually on elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
- In 10 states – California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin – counties are responsible for the administration of the SNAP program. Nine of these states (excluding Wisconsin) administer TANF.
Through peer learning, technology exploration and collaboration with intergovernmental partners, NACo’s Transforming Human Services Initiative convenes and equips counties to adapt to their evolving role in county benefits administration and build integrated human services systems to best serve community members. In 2026, NACo will launch a peer learning SNAP-focused cohort to help counties troubleshoot emerging challenges, identify AI-driven best practices and share innovations.
What Participants are Saying
Hon. Toni Carter
Former Commissioner, Ramsey County, Minn.
Kareem Murphy
Intergovernmental Relations Director, Hennepin County, Minn.
Anthony Trotman
Former Deputy County Manager, Mecklenburg County, N.C.
Share Your Interest
In 2026, NACo will launch a peer learning SNAP-focused cohort to help counties troubleshoot emerging challenges, identify AI-driven best practices and share innovations.
Are you working on public benefits administration or modernization in your county? Do you have ideas to share on how to streamline access to public benefits? Are you interested in participating in a future cohort to explore the applications of AI in administering SNAP? Please submit your information through the following form and NACo staff will connect with you to learn more and discuss opportunities to engage with upcoming programming:
Resource
H.R. 1 and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): What Counties Should Know
USDA and HHS release new dietary guidelines
On January 7, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. unveiled the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
Counties attract talent by stressing public service appeal
Whether they’re up in the mountains or surrounded by millions of potential job candidates, counties face challenges recruiting talent to enter the public sector job market.
Interim county administrators bridge the gap and offer seasoned experience
After long careers in administration, some professionals relish a chance to help counties out for short stints when their Boards are in transition.
County Countdown – Dec. 15, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Stretching small opioid settlement allocations helps funding do more
States and localities are set to receive $56 billion in opioid settlement dollars over an 18-year period, but not every county that receives settlement funding will get enough to build out infrastructure.
The Current State of Student Debt and Forgiveness
This webinar is designed for county HR and leadership teams seeking practical ways to support employees struggling with student debt.
Over 9 million public service workers, including full-time county employees, are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Yet fewer than 3 percent have successfully received relief.
The issue is not eligibility. It is awareness, complexity, and follow-through.
Please join us as we speak with student debt forgiveness expert Tony Raffa, who will clarify today’s student debt landscape, including:
- What recent policy and executive actions mean for public sector employees
- How Department of Education changes affect forgiveness eligibility, timelines, and compliance
- Which student debt relief programs do employees actually qualify for today
- The current status of the SAVE program
- Common application errors that delay or derail forgiveness
- Rising delinquency and repayment restart risks
- What HR teams need to know about collections, wage garnishment notices, and employer responsibilities
Attendees will also see how a new student debt navigation tool helps employees estimate their potential forgiveness, avoid costly mistakes, and reduce annual payments by an average of $2,244.
For HR teams, this means a scalable way to offer meaningful financial support without adding administrative burden.
Lowering Records Request Costs: Practical Tactics for Local Governments
This webinar identifies key cost drivers in public records management and provides strategies to minimize manual processing and mitigate legal risks.