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 engage 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
Public Health Leadership Academy
Applications to NACo’s inaugural Public Health Leadership Academy are now closed. We will be launching applications for the next cohort this fall. If you are interested in being notified when applications launch, sign up here.
Upcoming Program Calendar
- August 2026 - September 2026: Applications open for the second Public Health Leadership Academy Cohort
- November 2026: Second Public Health Leadership Academy begins
- January 19 - 22, 2027: Second Public Health Leadership Academy in-person convening
- March 2027: Second Public Health Leadership Academy concludes
About the Public Health Leadership Academy
These 12 counties are participating in NACo's PHLA cohort:
- Alachua County, Fla.
- Arapahoe County, Colo.
- Cobb County, Ga.
- Delta County, Colo.
- Hennepin County, Minn.
- Rolette County, N.D.
- Saline County, Kan.
- Scott County, Minn.
- Shasta County, Calif.
- Thurston County, Wash.
- United Government of Wyandotte County, Kan.
- Yates County, N.Y.
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.
Resource
Building a Legacy of Health: Transforming the Health and Wellbeing of Our Communities
In partnership with the de Beaumont Foundation, NACo offers insights and actionable strategies to help county leaders build a legacy of health in our communities – beyond increasing access to clinical care.
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.
Resource
County Health Day 2026: County Participation Toolkit
Please join the National Association of Counties (NACo) in celebrating County Health Day on Friday, April 17.
Counties turn to universities, hard data to gauge opioid settlement impact
Evaluating the efficacy programming is often the hardest and most neglected piece of allocating opioid settlement funds.
County offers leave for EMS volunteers
Facing challenges that could further shrink its pool of EMS volunteers, McLean County, N.D. eased the process for county staff to participate.
DEA announces temporary scheduling of synthetic kratom substances
On July 1, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) filed two Notices of Intent to temporarily place highly concentrated and synthetic kratom-related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Additionally, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) issued a Request for Information seeking public comment on scientific data on the proposed threshold level.
Doing More With Less: How Counties Can Successfully Address Behavioral Health Crisis Response Needs
Join Bamboo Health for a practical discussion on strategies county health departments can use to maximize resources and improve care outcomes.