Resource Roundup: May 15, 2026

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May 15, 2026, 2:03:48 PMMay 15

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May 15, 2026

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Every other Friday, NACo's Resource Roundup highlights opportunities, reports, upcoming events and other tools for NACo members.

Tell the county transportation story during Infrastructure Week

Infrastructure Week begins Monday, May 18, offering counties an opportunity to highlight our role in planning, building and maintaining the infrastructure that keeps communities connected and economies moving. This year, the message is especially timely as Congress drafts legislation to reauthorize federal surface transportation programs.

County infrastructure impact: Counties play a critical role, investing $134 billion annually in public works, supporting roads, bridges, water systems, broadband and other essential infrastructure residents and businesses rely on every day.
Advocate for federal investment: Contact your members of Congress and urge support for the NACo-endorsed bipartisan BASICS Act, which would strengthen federal investment in local infrastructure and recognize counties as principal stakeholders in the nation’s transportation system. Visit NACo's Surface Transportation Resource Hub to learn more.
Share your county story: Use Infrastructure Week to elevate how your county moves people, connects communities and fuels local economies through transportation and infrastructure investment.

NACo releases new video highlighting the critical role of counties

NACo recently launched a new video diving deep into the collective impact of the nation's 3,069 counties parishes and boroughs. The new video is the latest from NACo's We Are Counties campaign, which highlights the essential role counties play across every part of community life.

We Are Counties: From urban to rural, large to small, America’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs keep our communities healthy, vibrant and safe, working with intergovernmental, community and private partners to deliver where it matters most: in our communities. Explore our story and get involved here.
Watch the video: Click here to watch the latest video and stay tuned for more by following us on social media.
Participation toolkit: Counties and state associations are invited to join the We Are Counties campaign using NACo’s participation toolkit, which features ready-to-use graphic templates, sample social media posts and media outreach tools.

NACo releases new brief on public safety workforce recruitment and retention

From patrolling the streets, to fire rescue, to crisis response, to operating and maintaining county jails, the county public safety workforce fosters safe and resilient communities. Recent cultural and economic changes have driven existing staffing challenges to expand, prompting county leaders to take action.

Discover innovative strategies: NACo's new brief explores how five counties are improving local public safety workforce recruitment and retention through practical, innovative approaches.
Share your county story: Are you working to support your local public safety workforce? Do you have successful strategies other counties can learn from? Share your information using NACo's online form. For technical assistance, email bhj...@naco.org.

Full schedule for the 2026 NACo Annual Conference & Expo now available

The full schedule is now live for the 2026 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition, taking place July 17–20 in Orleans Parish/New Orleans, La. County elected and appointed officials will gather for four days of learning, networking and advocacy.

Conference highlights: Explore the full conference schedule to learn about the educational forums, workshops, policy steering committee meetings, conference-wide events and more happening this year.
Mardi Gras World closing reception: Don’t miss the All Conference Closing Reception at Mardi Gras World on Monday, July 20, featuring New Orleans-style fun and local food from parish leaders across Louisiana.
Learn more and register today: Review the full schedule, register for the conference and make plans to join county leaders from across the country in Orleans Parish / New Orleans, La.

Explore strategies to leverage opioid settlement funds for housing supports

Counties across the country are working to expand safe and supportive housing for their residents with substance use disorder, recognizing housing as a critical part of the recovery continuum of care.

Tune in: Taking place Monday, June 8, the webinar will highlight practical strategies for using opioid settlement funds to support housing initiatives at the local level. Register here.
Why it matters: Given ongoing ambiguity around allowable uses of settlement funds, the session will offer clear guidance on emerging models, compliance considerations and opportunities to fund housing as part of broader recovery infrastructure.
For more resources on opioid settlement funds and related topics, check out the Opioid Solution Center.

Mental Health Awareness Month tools for county leaders

This May, counties across the country are recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month and reaffirming their commitment to healthier, more resilient communities and county workforces.

Support mental well-being in your county by:

Taking the Mental Well-being Pledge: Join NACo EDGE partner, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in their Mental Wellbeing Pledge. Sign up today and commit to staying informed, prioritizing self-care, building skills, and advocating for access to mental health and substance use care.
Offering Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): Offered through NACo’s partnership with the National Council, MHFA training equips county employees and community members with practical skills to recognize mental health and substance use challenges and connect people to support. Join the over 4.5 million Americans trained in MHFA.
Learn more: To learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month, explore NACo's participation toolkit. To learn more about NACo's partnership with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, visit MHFA.org/NACo.

Join our bi-weekly Policy Insider briefing

If you have not already, register to participate in NACo's Policy Insider, a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties, as well as deeper dives into specific policy areas.

Equipping county leaders: Each briefing equips counties with the insight, context, and strategies to engage effectively on key issues from transportation and infrastructure, to public lands, to disasters, to health and human services and more.
Next briefing: Our next briefing takes place on Thursday, May 21. Click here to register. Please note that if you have attended a previous Policy Insider briefing, you are already registered and can use the same link.
Policy Insider delivered: In addition to our bi-weekly briefings, NACo sends a Policy Insider newsletter every Monday. If you are not already subscribed, click here.

Upcoming Events and Webinars

Jul. 17-20 | Orleans Parish/New Orleans, La.

2026 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition

NACo's Annual Conference is the premier annual gathering of the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs.

May 18 | 3:00 p.m. EDT

Major Housing Bill Update: What Counties Need to Know About the Updated 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

May 19 | 3:00 p.m. EDT

Breaking the Cycle: Behavioral Health Diversion Strategies for Counties

May 21 | 3:30 p.m. EDT

NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties

May 26 | 2:00 p.m. EDT

From Classroom to County: Leading with High-Performance Results

June 2 | 3:00 p.m. EDT

Grassroots Advocacy Series: Unlocking Tools to Tell Your County Story

View all of NACo's upcoming events here.

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