Transforming Human Services Initiative
Every day, counties provide services that help vulnerable individuals and families thrive, functioning as an integral part of the federal, state and local partnership in human service delivery. Counties are responsible for shaping policies and systems driving public human services programs such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), childcare assistance, housing and homelessness and child welfare programs.
Through peer learning, technology exploration and collaboration with intergovernmental partners, NACo’s Transforming Human Services Initiative convenes and equips counties to adapt to their evolving role in county benefits administration and build integrated human services systems to best serve community members.
By the Numbers
$62B
Allocated to provide a safety net
Annually, counties invest $62.8 billion in federal, state and local resources and employ 259,000 human services workers to provide safety net services for millions of residents
$103B
Invested in education
Annually, counties spend $103 billion annually on elementary, secondary and post-secondary education opportunities for residents
10
States where counties administer SNAP
In 10 states – California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin – counties are responsible for the administration of the SNAP program. Nine of these states (excluding Wisconsin) administer TANF
Coming Soon: Counties for SNAP Transformation
NACo's Counties for SNAP Transformation is a cohort-based program that will empower counties to modernize SNAP administration with other public benefits systems. Cohort participants will:
- Share best practices for modernizing SNAP administration within federal guidelines (particularly in response to implementation changes required by H.R. 1, 119 Congress) and state-specific contexts to protect community member access to nutritious food essential to health and well-being
- Identify areas of integration across public benefits to reduce local caseworker administrative burdens and minimize SNAP payment error rates
- Foster collaboration between county elected officials and human services leaders
- Highlight responsible and appropriate uses of emerging technology innovations
- Develop the tools and skills to draft and implement a county-specific SNAP/public benefits modernization action plan
Competitive applications will open on December 1, 2026. Email all questions to Alex Waskiewicz (awaskiewicz@naco.org) and use the form below to be notified when the application is open.
Network Calendar at a Glance
- Dec. 1, 2026: Open call for applications
- Jan. 11, 2027: Optional application information session
- Jan. 18, 2027: Application deadline
- Feb. 22, 2027: Announcement of selected teams
- March 2027 – September 2027: Cohort activities
- April 15 – 16, 2027: Cohort peer exchange (Washington, D.C.)
Share Your Interest
Are you working on public benefits administration or modernization in your county? Do you have ideas to share on how to streamline access to public benefits? Are you interested in participating in a future cohort to explore the applications of AI in administering SNAP? Please submit your information through the following form and NACo staff will connect with you to learn more and discuss opportunities to engage with upcoming programming:
What Participants are Saying
Hon. Toni Carter
Former Commissioner, Ramsey County, Minn.
Kareem Murphy
Intergovernmental Relations Director, Hennepin County, Minn.
Anthony Trotman
Former Deputy County Manager, Mecklenburg County, N.C.
Resource
H.R. 1 and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): What Counties Should Know
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USDA releases new SNAP proposed rules, impacting eligibility and work requirements
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For more information, visit the event page!
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