County Countdown – Nov. 6, 2023

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Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.

Watch the video above and explore NACo resources below on some of the top issues we're covering this week.

1. New House Speaker

The clock is ticking towards the November 17 deadline to avoid a federal government shutdown, and newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson is pivotal to the negotiations.

  • The county perspective: NACo is advocating for continuity of federal funding to avert operational disruptions for counties.
  • What you need to know: Review key points for counties in the event of a federal government shutdown.

2. Veterans and Military Services

Counties reinforced our commitment to veterans through a dedicated advocacy fly-in, rallying for the passage of critical veteran support legislation.

  • CVSO Act: NACo's Veterans and Military Services Committee joined forces with the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers to champion the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act.
  • Why it matters: The act would unlock federal funding for County Veteran Service Officers, who in 29 states help veterans secure over $50B annually in VA benefits.
  • Operation Green Light: Show support for veterans and their families today to November 12 by participating in Operation Green Light for Veterans.

3. Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus

Amid rising concerns about mental health, the congressional Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus has emerged as a key group with direct implications for county-level services.

  • Policy commitments: The caucus champions mental health legislation, aiming to improve service access and dismantle stigmas.
  • Local solutions: NACo endorses policy initiatives that enhance counties' capacity to provide comprehensive mental health services.

4. BEAD Program Toolkit

NACo's new BEAD toolkit will guide counties through broadband funding and deployment strategies.

5. NACo Legislative Conference

The 2024 NACo Legislative Conference is February 10–13 in Washington, D.C.

  • Convening leaders: The conference draws nearly 2,000 county officials looking to advance our federal policy priorities.
  • Highlights: This year’s conference will include policy sessions, opportunities to engage with members of Congress, and robust interactions with federal agency representatives.
  • Register today to secure early bird rates and hotel availability.

Featured This Week

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What Counties Need to Know When a Government Shutdown Happens

Counties are calling on our federal partners to work in a bipartisan way to keep the federal government fully operational. As intergovernmental partners, any budget uncertainty at the federal level creates uncertainty at the local level as counties administer federal programs on the ground.

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Program

Operation Green Light for Veterans

Once again this Veterans Day, NACo and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO) invite the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes, and boroughs to join Operation Green Light and show support for veterans by lighting our buildings green from November 6-12.

 

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Program

NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing

Launched in February 2023, the NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing brings together county leaders from across the nation to take action to address the ever-growing mental health crisis from the county government perspective.

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BEAD Program Toolkit for Counties

This toolkit is intended to guide counties on the key deadlines, pertinent resources, and other initiatives that are critical under the BEAD and DEA programs. 

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Conference

2024 NACo Legislative Conference

Washington, D.C.

The NACo Legislative Conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents.

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County Countdown – April, 22, 2024

Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.

Upcoming Events

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Modernizing County Finance with Digital Disbursements

This session will provide an in-depth overview of the successful pilot project by Knox County, Ill., the National Association of Counties (NACo), and Visa, sharing how they delivered fast and secure payments to county election judges and jurors.

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Overview of the U.S. Department of Justice Final Rule on Web Accessibility for State and Local Governments

This webinar will include important details on forthcoming compliance requirements for web-based local government services, and outline other key implications for counties.

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Connecting Services for Improved Outcomes: Riverside County’s Integrated Services Delivery Initiative

The presentation will provide an overview of Riverside County’s current Integrated Services Delivery (ISD) initiative to connect health, human, and public safety services to orchestrate our efforts and resources around a constituent-first approach, focusing on delivering the best possible outcomes for our most vulnerable populations.

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How to Deliver a County AI Hackathon

One collaborative strategy in prioritizing and evaluating AI Use-Cases is to hold an AI Hackathon. During this webinar, you will hear from Alameda County, California, and King County, Washington, on how they have taken this approach. The concept, along with steps for preparing and for delivering the Hackathon, will be shared. Tips on how to engage partner and county wide staff will also be covered.

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NACo Cyberattack Simulation: Supplier Management Access

Effective partner management is integral to the operational efficiency of government business, yet it poses inherent cybersecurity risks, especially concerning partner access to sensitive systems and data.

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Transitions of Care in Mental Health

In this presentation, we will: define a successful transition of care for adults with schizophrenia, review barriers to a successful transition, highlight specific examples of successful transitional care programs, explore how a multidisciplinary/collaborative approach can support successful transitions, and identify actionable strategies for potential implementation.