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. Department of Agriculture launches modernization efforts for loan and grant systems
On June 4, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a major effort to modernize more than 130 loan and grant systems that support farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
CMS Issues Interim Final Rule on Medicaid Community Engagement Requirements
On June 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFR) establishing binding standards for how states must implement Medicaid community engagement ("work") requirements enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21), also referred to as H.R. 1.
The EPA announces $2.9 billion for states to support lead pipe replacement
On May 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) announced $2.9 billion in funding to help states support lead service line replacement. The funding will be distributed through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and can be used by communities to identify lead pipes, plan removal projects, and replace lead service lines that deliver drinking water to homes.
White House Signs Executive Order on Increased Cybersecurity Defense for AI
The White House EO directs multiple federal agencies to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and improve the secure deployment of advanced AI technologies.
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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