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.
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.
CMS announces new funding opportunity to promote holistic health innovation
On March 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Make America Healthy Again – Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence (MAHA ELEVATE) Model.
The Michelle Alyssa Go Act: Why Reforming the IMD Exclusion Matters for County Behavioral Health
Reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2025, the bipartisan Michelle Alyssa Go Act (H.R. 5462) aims to modernize the IMD exclusion and expand access to care.
CMS issues guidance on six-month Medicaid renewals
On March 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a letter to State Medicaid Directors with implementation guidance on six-month Medicaid renewals required under H.R. 1.
HHS Secretary Kennedy touts fixes for obesity, chronic illness, mental health issues
Counties can help improve health outcomes by prioritizing prevention over treatment, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told NACo Legislative Conference attendees.
Drug tracking software helps counties identify trends, save lives
Florida counties are using an artificial intelligence tool called Drug TRAC to track and report drug trends, with the aim of providing quicker outreach and saving lives.
White House Executive Order establishes national substance use disorder response
On January 29, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) establishing the Great American Recovery Initiative, a new federal effort aimed at coordinating a national response to substance use disorder (SUD).