County Health Day 2026: County Participation Toolkit
Upcoming Events
Related News
Please join the National Association of Counties (NACo) in celebrating County Health Day on Friday, April 17.
Jump to Section
Please join the National Association of Counties (NACo) in celebrating County Health Day on Friday, April 17.
County Health Day, which falls during National County Government Month, celebrates the pivotal role counties play in promoting public health and building resilient communities. This year’s theme, based on the priorities of NACo’s Healthy Counties Innovation Council (HCIC), is Access to Care, Healthier Counties.
Focus areas for this year’s celebration include:
- Expanding access to behavioral health: Counties are expanding access to mental health services, substance use treatment and crisis response systems to better address the opioid and overdose crisis through coordinated prevention, treatment and recovery services.
- Strengthening food security and health communities: Access to healthy food is a cornerstone of community health. Counties partner with local organizations and community stakeholders to address food insecurity and improve nutrition outcomes.
- Preventing and managing chronic disease: Counties invest in prevention programs, screenings and community health initiatives that help residents manage chronic conditions, improve quality of life and reduce long-term health care costs.
- Expanding access to coverage and care: Counties administer key safety-net programs the connect residents to health coverage, preventative care and essential health services.
How County Leaders Can Participate
- Show #CountyHealth in Action by using NACo’s social media toolkit
- Educate partners on the county role in public health
- Advocate for key public health priorities
Show #CountyHealth in Action
Use your social media platforms to share how your county is building a healthier community by improving access to care. Share photos, stories, programs or publications and use #CountyHealth to connect with counties across the country.
Sample Social Media Posts
Highlighting Counties
Highlighting Focus Areas
Storytelling
Behind every healthy community are dedicated public servants.
In [COUNTY NAME], our [DEPARTMENT / TEAM] works every day to connect residents to mental health services, prevention programs and essential care.
Meet [STAFF NAME OR TEAM] and learn how they’re improving health in our community. #CountyHealth
[PHOTO OR LINK]
Access to care can change lives.
Through [PROGRAM NAME], [COUNTY NAME] is helping residents connect to [SERVICE] when they need it most.
This County Health Day, we’re proud to support healthier futures for our community. #CountyHealth
Improving community health takes partnership.
[COUNTY NAME] works with [LOCAL ORGANIZATION / HEALTH SYSTEM / NONPROFIT] through [PROGRAM NAME] to expand access to services like [SERVICE]
Together, we’re building a healthier community. #CountyHealth
[PHOTO OR LINK]
On County Health Day, we recognize the county workforce improving community health every day.
From behavioral health professionals to public health staff and community outreach teams, [COUNTY NAME] employees are helping residents access the care and services they need
Thank you to our dedicated team. #CountyHealth
[PHOTO]
Educate Partners on the County Role in Public Health
Counties play a vital role in protecting and improving community health. NACo resources highlight the county role in providing essential public health services, including those reflected in this year’s County Health Day focus areas.
These resources also outline key federal policy recommendations to strengthen local public health systems and safeguard funding for critical services.
GET INVOLVED IN NACo PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
Learn more about the county role in public health
Advocate for county health priorities
Advocate for Key Public Health Priorities
Urge your members of Congress, especially those who serve on the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees, to protect and increase funding for local public health services and prevention programs made possible by the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.
Urge your members of Congress to support increased funding and further support for local rural health initiatives that increase access to care and support the vitality of rural communities. Additionally, urge Congress to continue to support funding for critical programs under the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) at or above the enacted Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding level.
Urge your members of Congress to meet or exceed FY 2026 appropriation levels for the Community and Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) and the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG) in FY 2027 appropriations.
Urge your members of Congress to modernize the Medicaid Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusion to ensure counties can provide timely, clinically appropriate behavioral health treatment. Congress should pass legislation like the Michelle Alyssa Go Act (H.R. 5462), which increases the number of federal Medicaid-eligible in-patient psychiatric beds from 16 to 36, providing critical support for individuals seeking treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.
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).