County Officials Advancing Racial Equity (CORE) Justice Network
The County Officials Advancing Racial Equity (CORE) Justice Network is a cohort of 15 county officials pursuing meaningful change in the criminal legal system. The peer learning group addresses issues of racial inequality through the lens of the county role, learning about policies, practices and programs that identify and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities.
This work is funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. This network will continue through December 2024.
About the Network
Together CORE Network members learn about the policies, practices and programs that can be used to identify and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal legal system. They receive monthly research-based emails, take part in quarterly calls with guest speakers and participate in in-person peer exchanges.
- Hon. Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, Neb.
- Hon. Sharon Weston Broome, East Baton Rouge Parish, La.
- Hon. Charlie Cavell, Oakland County, Mich.
- Hon. Erica Crawley, Franklin County, Ohio
- Hon. Latifah Faisal, Story County, Iowa
- Hon. Tara Gaston, Saratoga County, N.Y.
- Hon. John Idleburg, Lake County, Ill.
- Hon. Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Clark County, Nev.
- Hon. Lloyd LaCroix, Pennington County, S.D.
- Hon. Donna Miller, Cook County, Ill.
- Hon. Mary Beth Murphy, Guilford County, N.C.
- Hon. Dana Pellebon, Dane County, Wis.
- Hon. Alana Sanders, Newton County, Ga.
- Hon. Lori Stegmann, Multnomah County, Ore.
- Hon. Vivian Thomas, Henry County, Ga.
CMS finalizes Medicare rule with key improvements for justice-involved populations
On November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule that, in a major advocacy win for counties, will improving access to Medicare for justice-involved individuals who are in pre-trial status or who are reentering the community. The CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule reflects significant updates to Medicare’s “custody” definition and Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for formerly incarcerated individuals.
White House submitted $100 billion disaster relief request; Counties are encouraged to advocate for essential funding
On November 18, the White House submitted a $98.6 billion disaster relief funding request to Congress, outlining resources needed to address recent disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Maui County wildfires and tornadoes in the Midwest.
National Association of Counties Launches Disaster Reform Task Force
Local government leaders will tackle questions of resiliency, response and recovery
Application deadline approaching for NACo's Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils Peer Exchange
This 1.5-day event is an opportunity for representatives from a criminal justice coordinating council (CJCC) or other similar county-level entity to take part in peer learning and networking, hear from experts in the field, share successes and brainstorm solutions to common criminal justice challenges.
North Carolina county decreases 911 non-emergency calls by connecting residents to services they need
Guilford County, N.C. was inundated with 911 calls until the county connected residents to resources, including primary care physicians and access to food, so they don’t feel the need to call an emergency line.
Six years of the SUPPORT Act: Ongoing behavioral health policy priorities for counties
On October 24, 2018, the bipartisan SUPPORT Act was enacted. It represented the largest Congressional investment in overdose prevention at the time, aiming to strengthen the nation's response to the substance use crisis.
NACo National Membership Call: Advocacy Efforts on Disaster Supplemental Funding Package
The White House has submitted a $98.6 billion disaster relief funding request to Congress, outlining resources needed to address recent disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Maui County wildfires and tornadoes in the Midwest. If approved, the funds would also address unmet needs from prior disasters.
Weather events cause hundreds of deaths and billions in damages annually. In 2024, the U.S. has faced 24 billion-dollar disasters so far, including the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. These events, combined with ongoing recovery efforts from past disasters, have expended the federal programs counties depend on to restore their communities and return residents' lives back to normal.
Join this national membership call for an update on NACo’s advocacy efforts around the supplemental package and information on how to get involved.
Bridging Gaps: Collaborative Strategies for Supporting Youth Reentry Through Medicaid
Join the National Association of Medicaid Directors and NACo for a deep dive into CMS’s latest guidance on extending Medicaid and CHIP services to incarcerated youth. This policy shift opens up new opportunities for state and county partnerships to ensure continuous healthcare coverage for young people in the justice system. Discover practical approaches for collaboration between Medicaid agencies and county jails to facilitate successful enrollment, improve health outcomes, and support youths’ transitions back into the community. This session will include insights from county health leaders, best practices for cross-system coordination, and strategies for leveraging federal support to enhance service delivery.
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