2023 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition

Conference

2023 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition

Participants from counties of all sizes come together to shape NACo’s federal policy agenda, share proven practices and strengthen knowledge networks to help improve residents’ lives and the efficiency of county government.
Thu. July 20
8:00 am

FEMA Just-in-Time Recovery Management Training

Registration Full

Thu. July 20 | 8:00 am to 4:30 pmLevel 3 | Room 8

As the frequency, severity and cost of natural disasters continues to increase, county officials must be prepared to respond to and recover from these events. To assist in this effort, NACo has partnered with FEMA to provide members with a day-long training. Known as the “Just In Time” program, this in-person training will highlight all the federal resources available to counties following a disaster, information on how to apply for these funding opportunities and an overview of the documentation procedures.

9:00 am

CIO Technology Speed Sharing

Invitation Only

Thu. July 20 | 9:00 am to 10:00 amLevel 4 | Ballroom F
10:30 am

NACo's 2023 CIO Forum

Thu. July 20 | 10:30 am to 5:15 pmLevel 4 | Ballroom F

This year's annual CIO Forum is focused on moving beyond being successful and making an impact by building resiliency through neurodiversity and skills training for IT, as well as developing short term and long-term strategies that bring innovation and transformation and keeps pace with the changing landscape of technology. Technology areas that will be covered include workforce, cybersecurity collaboration, change management, criminal justice and innovative opportunities.

Sat. July 22
8:30 am

Curbing the Crisis: County Recommendations to Advance Housing Affordability

Sat. July 22 | 8:30 am to 9:45 amLevel 4 | Ballroom F

Navigate the complex landscape of county authority and housing affordability. Hear from NACo Housing Task Force members on specific policy recommendations and best practices that can be tailored and implemented in your community.

Nationwide Workshop: Social Security, Efficient Retirement Plan Distributions and Lifetime Income

Sat. July 22 | 8:30 am to 9:45 amLevel 3 | Room 8
12:00 pm

How to get the NACo EDGE Luncheon

By invitation only

Sat. July 22 | 12:00 pm to 1:15 pmLevel 3 | Room 8

How to help your county generate revenue and streamline processes while enhancing your workforce. Find out about how to give your county the NACo EDGE.

Sun. July 23
8:45 am

Closing the Affordable Housing Gap in Your County: Innovative Approaches and Partnerships

Sun. July 23 | 8:45 am to 10:00 amLevel 4 | Room 19B

Communities across the country are struggling to provide high-quality, affordable housing for local residents. For example, at last count, the nation needed to build 266,000 apartments each year to keep up with demand. In this session sponsored by Aetna, experts will present latest research and best practices on what’s happening in counties. The session also will showcase how counties are working with housing industry groups, private employers, and other partners to increase affordable housing supply in downtowns and other neighborhoods.

Generating Clean Energy in Our Counties: A Place Based Approach

Sun. July 23 | 8:45 am to 10:00 amLevel 4 | Room 12

Unprecedented federal resources from both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act are incentivizing the deployment of clean energy technologies, including solar and wind energy. This workshop will focus on how counties can prepare for and evaluate the options, costs and potential benefits of generating clean energy. You will hear from county leaders on place-based initiatives that enable the planning and installation of clean energy developments. This panel will also explore the resources available to counties, including the SolSmart program, which provides no-cost technical assistance to reduce non-hardware costs for residents, businesses, nonprofits and government facilities to meet electricity needs through solar energy.

Improving Economic Stability for Young Children Through Two-Generation Strategies

Sun. July 23 | 8:45 am to 10:00 amLevel 3 | Room 9 B & C

Learn from county officials who have successfully implemented two-generation approaches to improve economic stability and well-being for young children. The session will explore how working with children and the adults in their lives can support economic mobility.

Leaving a Lasting Legacy through the Power of a Strong Leadership Motto

Sun. July 23 | 8:45 am to 10:00 amLevel 4 | Room 18 C & D

County leaders have the opportunity to shape our communities for years to come. But how can you ensure your impact lasts beyond your time in office? This workshop, powered by NACo’s High Performing Leadership Academy, will supply you with tools to create a legacy by harnessing a leadership motto. More than just a catchy phrase, a leadership motto is a guiding principle that informs your every action. In this workshop, learn how to identify and develop your own powerful leadership motto and strategies for integrating your motto into your leadership style and decision-making.

Making the Most of August Recess: Advocacy Tips for County Officials

Sun. July 23 | 8:45 am to 10:00 amLevel 4 | Room 16

Reducing Recidivism and Improving Outcomes after Incarceration

Sun. July 23 | 8:45 am to 10:00 amLevel 4 | Room 17

Counties nationwide operate 90 percent of all local jails and provide services to people leaving jails and on community supervision. People leaving jails often face a variety of challenges – from housing and employment to behavioral health treatment and recovery services. Additionally, the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) results in higher rates of recidivism, increased health care costs and poorer health outcomes. During this session, attendees will hear from national experts and county leaders on the latest trends in re-entry and community supervision.

10:30 am

Building the Future: Strategies for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation

Sun. July 23 | 10:30 am to 11:45 amLevel 4 | Room 16

This session will explore ways county leaders can apply for funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build a foundation for long-term sustainability. The workshop will highlight county programs, including broadband deployment, transportation projects, energy efficiency, and water and sewer improvements.

Navigating Crisis Communication

Sun. July 23 | 10:30 am to 11:45 amLevel 3 | Room 9 B & C

Join the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) for robust discussion and Q&A focused on crisis communications and today's uniquely challenging news landscape. More than ever, county officials are navigating the world of "fake news" and communicating in the face of natural disasters and other crises. Learn key tips for rapid response communications, remaining calm under pressure, and adhering to a strong sense of audience and objective.

Partnering with the Department of Defense and Landowners for National Security and Resilience

Sun. July 23 | 10:30 am to 11:45 amLevel 4 | Room 18 C & D

This workshop will bring together officials from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Readiness & Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program and leaders from counties that neighbor military installations to discuss partnerships to advance climate resiliency. Participants will learn about the REPI Program's critical role in strengthening local capacity to build resiliency and discover opportunities to leverage REPI funding as a non-federal match.

Revitalizing County Health, Public Safety and Legal Systems

Sun. July 23 | 10:30 am to 11:45 amLevel 4 | Room 17

Examine how counties are strengthening our health, public safety and legal systems to make real the promise of ensuring justice for all. Learn about key resources counties are leveraging to center the experiences of underserved populations and address social determinants of health. This session will highlight county strategies for improving health equity within, and across, our health, human services and criminal legal systems.

Understanding Lessons Learned and Trends in Elections

Sun. July 23 | 10:30 am to 11:45 amLevel 4 | Room 12

In our electoral system, the nation’s county governments typically administer and fund elections at the local level, including overseeing polling places and voting systems, and coordinating poll workers for federal, state and local elections. The specifics of election administration align with federal standards but vary from county to county and state to state, resulting in a variety of approaches to ensure safe, secure and fair elections. During this session, participants will hear from county election officials on  the basics of election administration and will walk away with an understanding of key authorities and themes that are common and unique to counties across the country. 

2:30 pm

Achieving the American Dream: Summit on Strategies to Promote Economic Mobility

Sun. July 23 | 2:30 pm to 5:00 pmLevel 4 | Ballroom F

County policies, programs, partnerships and funding create pathways to improved financial prosperity for our residents. This capstone to NACo's multi-year partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will focus on four key policy areas to support inter-generational wealth-building, including equitable access to broadband, effective workforce development, housing finance and measuring progress. Presenters will feature subject matter experts as well as elected county leaders who are members of NACo’s Economic Mobility Leadership Network.

Enhancing Wellbeing: Summit on Mental Health

Sun. July 23 | 2:30 pm to 5:00 pmLevel 1 | Ballroom A

In response to increasing mental health caseloads across the country, county officials are partnering with local and state leaders to develop behavioral health continuums of care. NACo’s Mental Health Commission will lead a discussion of best practices around intergovernmental partnerships that support the 988 Lifeline and crisis response, the entry point to behavioral health systems of care; bolster the increased need and resulting shortage of a behavioral health workforce; and to address exclusionary policies that often preclude effective behavioral health care options that can reduce recidivism and other cyclical service utilization patterns.

Safeguarding Our Counties: Summit on Disaster Resiliency

Sun. July 23 | 2:30 pm to 5:00 pmLevel 4 | Ballroom G

As the frequency, severity and cost of natural disasters increases, this summit will provide attendees with an overview of federal resources available to help bolster community resiliency, including strengthening local energy grids, critical infrastructure and households. This session will also highlight innovative county solutions that have been implemented to safeguard against future disasters.

Mobile Workshop: 911 Emergency Communications and STAR Flight Mobile Tour

Sun. July 23 | 2:30 pm to 5:30 pmBuses depart from the Trinity Street Convention Center exit

CTECC (Combined Transportation, Emergency & Communications Center) improves emergency response coordination and cooperation by providing a centralized public safety facility sustaining the operations of shared, critical emergency communications and transportation management for the region. CTECC is jointly owned by Travis County, the City of Austin, Texas Department of Transportation and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

STAR Flight is the only 24/7 aerial emergency medical service in Texas that performs highly specialized emergency response services, including emergency medical transport, still and swift water rescue, search and rescue, high angle rescue, fire suppression/aerial reconnaissance, and law safety assistance. STAR (Shock Trauma Air Rescue) Flight is owned and operated by Travis County and serves 19 counties in central Texas.

This tour is open to all conference attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mobile Workshop: Community First! Village Mobile Tour

Sun. July 23 | 2:30 pm to 5:30 pmBuses depart from the Trinity Street Convention Center exit

Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for the disabled, chronically homeless in Central Texas. Since 2005, this transformative residential program has been a staple of Mobile Loaves & Fishes and has become the largest community-based model in the country lifting homeless men and women up off the streets into community and home.

This tour is open to all conference attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mon. July 24
3:00 pm

Breaking the Stigma: Empowering Mental Health Champions

Mon. July 24 | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pmLevel 4 | Room 18 C & D

County elected officials and staff play a critical role as the front-line service providers during trying times. This pressure and exposure to trauma can have a lasting impact on elected officials and county employees alike. This workshop will feature a training from the National Council on Mental Wellbeing’s Mental Health First Aid program, equipping attendees with strategies for identifying and responding to mental health issues in the workplace, techniques to identify team members facing mental health or substance abuse challenges, and how to build a culture and organization that supports wellbeing.

Powering Up Economies: Strategies for Coal, Energy and Rural Communities

Mon. July 24 | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pmLevel 4 | Room 17

This workshop will showcase economic trends and innovative strategies to strengthen your local economy. Learn about forward-looking opportunities from experts and county leaders to overcome economic shocks and support greater resiliency. Counties will discuss responses to the closing of coal-fired power plants and successful diversification of mining economies. Walk away inspired by the potential within your community for economic transformation. Additionally, coal-impacted communities are encouraged to be part of NACo’s Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) Initiative.

Robert's Rules 101: Crash Course

Mon. July 24 | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pmLevel 4 | Room 16

Robert’s Rules can help you run an efficient meeting. But how do you run an effective meeting? This workshop is a crash course in Robert's Rules where we will deliver tools to minimize meeting disruptions, define proper procedures and apply Robert's Rules to real-life parliamentary examples.

The Opioid Epidemic in Rural America: Creating Justice System Pathways to Care

Mon. July 24 | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pmLevel 3 | Room 9 B & C

While no corner of the country has been untouched by the opioid epidemic, the overdose crisis has hit rural America particularly hard. Between 1999 and 2015, overdose deaths increased 325 percent in rural counties. Additionally, people with substance use disorder are often routed into the legal system and incarcerated, which may disrupt treatment and increase overdose risks. Hear from members of NACo's Opioid Solutions Leadership Network and the Reaching Rural Initiative about how rural counties are adopting solutions to the persistent challenges in addressing substance use disorder.

Trends in Federal and State Preemption

Mon. July 24 | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pmLevel 4 | Room 12

County authority and responsibility is granted by state constitutions and statutes, and states are increasingly passing laws that preempt county authorities and limit local policymaking in a range of issues. This session will explore county authority in revenue generation and land use planning, state preemption of county authority to manage, protect and tax local land, and point participants toward solutions that can be tailored for unique local circumstances.

Enacting Policies and Service Delivery that Benefit All

Mon. July 24 | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pmLevel 4 | Room 11

County leaders can help improve the trajectory for everyone in our communities by making equitable decisions in policy and service delivery. Learn about the unique opportunities open to each of us, regardless of our function in county government, and how we can leverage resources to ensure equity is central to our governance.

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