Public Health Leadership Initiative
Sections
Counties are essential to the public health system, delivering services that protect and promote community well-being. From addressing substance use to tackling food insecurity, county policies and programs shape the conditions in which residents live and work. County investments in health ensure that all residents have access to the services they need to thrive.
NACo’s Public Health Leadership Initiative will educate county leaders on their role in public health and equip them with the skills needed to become public health champions in their communities. The initiative will include cohort programs as well as one-off peer exchange events and best practice briefs focused on highlighting successful strategies for empowering county officials to improve community health.
By the numbers
1,900
Local health departments
Counties support public health through the operation of more than 1,900 local health departments
$100B
Invested in community health
Counties invest $100 billion in community health and hospitals each year to provide community and public health services and support county-owned hospitals
$62.8B
Allocated to provide a safety net
Annually, counties allocate $62.8 billion to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable residents
How to Get Involved
The first Public Health Leadership cohort will begin in Spring 2026 and applications will open in January. Sign up here to be notified when the Public Health Leadership cohort application launches:
Resource
The County Role in Public Health
This brief provides an overview of how counties provide integral public health services for all Americans, describes their public health authority, their role in preparedness and response efforts, and local public health efforts to address social determinants of health (SDOH) in our communities.
Program
Healthy Counties Innovation Council
NACo’s Healthy Counties Innovation Council elevates national trends and county innovations in promoting and protecting the health and well-being of America’s residents; in addition, the Council advises NACo on the organization’s health programming.
Committee
Health Policy Steering Committee
The committee covers all matters pertaining to public health and healthy communities, including disease and injury prevention and health promotion, health disparities reduction, mental and behavioral health services, and financing delivering health care.
U.S. Department of Agriculture unveils $700 million for regenerative agriculture
On December 10, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the launch of a $700 million pilot program to support regenerative agriculture practices across the country.
HHS releases rule repealing federal nursing home staffing mandate, supporting county long term care facilities
On December 2, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published an interim final rule that repeals the federal nursing home staffing mandate, a regulation that would have required long-term care facilities to meet strict minimum staffing levels.
Congress passes SUPPORT Act reauthorization
On September 18, the U.S. Senate passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (SUPPORT Act Reauthorization) (H.R. 2483) by voice vote, following House passage earlier this year. With strong bipartisan backing in both chambers, the legislation now heads to the President’s desk for signature.
SUPPORT Reauthorization Act of 2025: What it means for counties
On December 1, the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 2483) was signed into law. The reauthorization renews vital federal funding for programs that seek to prevent opioid overdoses and expand treatment and recovery options.
CMS releases new guidance on Medicaid provider tax provisions in OBBBA
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released new guidance outlining how it will implement significant Medicaid financing changes enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). These provisions restrict states’ ability to use health care-related taxes, commonly known as provider taxes, to help finance the non-federal share of Medicaid.
States submit Rural Health Transformation Program funding applications
On November 5, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that all 50 states submitted applications for the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.