Our office just wrapped up a very busy week in Austin, Texas for NACo's Annual Conference & Exposition.

NACo is the National Association of Counties, which includes on 2,350 counties across the county, 40,000 elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. NACo helps to advocate for county priorities, promote exemplary leadership and county practices, and educate the public in the county's role in their lives.

Here are just some of the exciting things the Hennepin County District 7 office was up to at the conference:

• As a member of NACo's Health Policy Steering Committee, I presented to committee members two resolutions, both of which passed out of committee and were adopted by the larger NACo body:
  
  
  • Our office developed a System of Care resolution which focuses heavily on children's mental health. We want to create a system that provides a multifaceted, accessible form of care for people in need wherein providers collaborate. It is ideal to expand systems of care, especially around mental health care, to include services in dental care, substance use disorder, public health, and even housing.
  • Commissioner Conley's office developed a resolution about strengthening county programming for women's cardiovascular health. Counties own and operate safety net hospitals, and community health clinics, and are home to America’s local public health departments. We are best prepared to prevent disease, support heart-healthy activities at a community level, and treat those living with CVD – all with the frame of a highly localized understanding of women’s lived experiences. Both resolutions passed out of committee and were adopted by the larger NACo body. This is just one way that Hennepin County is making a difference not just in our county but across the country.
• I was honored to accept the Digital Counties Survey Award on behalf of Hennepin County where we ranked 5th place among the large counties (counties with more than 1 million people). The survey, developed in partnership with NACo, and conducted by CDG, identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services; encourage collaboration; enhance cybersecurity and apply innovative and emerging technologies to county priorities. 
• We attended the Large Urban County Caucus meeting to listen to a panel discussion hosted by Commissioner Conley about supportive housing.
• As NACo looks to recognize counties doing incredible work, we attended the Achievement Award Luncheon, where Hennepin County received several awards.
• Minnesota was well represented at the NACo conference, especially with the appointment of new NACo President Mary Jo McGuire of Ramsey County, Minnesota. At this same business conference, I received a NACo Presidential appointment as vice chair of the County – Technology Advisory Committee. 
• Of course, we had to explore Austin while we were there, so we visited the Texas State Capitol and the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library.