Smith Recognizes County Agencies for Winning National Awards

Nine county agencies win 2008 NACo Achievement Awards

Towson, Md. (July 18, 2008) -  Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith acknowledged the aging, communications, community conservation, environmental protection and resource management, homeland security, local management board, recreation and parks, social services, and workforce departments with executive citations for winning the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2008 Achievement Awards. The recognition ceremony was held today in the Old Courthouse in Towson.  

The annual NACo Achievement Award Program is a non-competitive project that seeks to recognize innovative county government initiatives called County Model Programs. The Baltimore County programs that merited national recognition for this year include: 

• Aging – (3 awards)  
  Action for Aging: Goals and Strategic Objectives with Action Steps
  Success to Significance Initiative       
  Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease
   
• Communications: Expanding Access to Public Affairs Television Show
   
• Community Conservation – (2 awards)
  Back Home Project
  Housing Accessibility Modification Program
   
• DEPRM – Growing Home Campaign
   
• Homeland Security – (2 awards)
  “Ready? Set? Good?”
  Working with People with Disabilities - A Guide to First Responders
    
• Local Management Board – Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Reduction Initiative
     
• Recreation and Parks – (3 awards)
  Park Pride
  Summer Camp – Summer School Program
  Woodmoor PAL Lacrosse
   
• Social Services/Health Department/BCPS – Bridge Center Program
   
• Workforce Development – Re-Entry Transition Program

“By establishing these programs, our agencies have shown an exceptional commitment to building a better Baltimore County,” remarked County Executive Smith. “This year, Baltimore County has the most winning programs ever – 15, including nine collaborative efforts. These programs combine the many resources of the diverse County agencies and allow their staffs to create innovative programs that meet the needs of our citizens” 

The award-winning programs provide NACo members with an extensive database of successful model county programs to imitate and utilize in their own jurisdictions. The National Association of Counties (NACo) was created in 1935 when county officials wanted to have a strong voice in the nation's capital. 

More than six decades later, NACo continues to ensure that the nation's 3066 counties are heard and understood in the White House and the halls of Congress.  Its Achievement Award Program continues to embody the grassroots and local government energy the program was designed to promote by encouraging the modernization and streamlining of county government to increase its services to citizens.