Untold Stories: Highlighting the Human Impact of County Services

Watch Video Spotlight

Untold Stories Spotlight: New Hanover County, N.C.

Share Your Untold Story With NACo

Share how your county is investing ARPA funds to serve residents and support your community

Share Your Story

Media Engagement Resources

Access media engagement tools and templates, and leverage the power of your local media.

Social Media Templates

Use sample tweets and graphics to help tell your untold stories.

Resident Engagement Resources

Find tools to engage residents and help them tell their stories.

Explore Recent Stories

Since the beginning of the pandemic, counties have invested in small businesses and nonprofits, vaccine distribution, public health and safety, human services, especially for those suffering from domestic violence, mental illnesses and substance use disorders, and much-needed infrastructure, including broadband. Counties have also provided safety net services for our most vulnerable residents – the sick, unemployed, elderly and youth.

Counties are continuing those investments in their community through the Recovery Fund including:

	Deschutes County, Ore. Deschutes County will support the construction of the Veterans’ Village project, a community of transitional shelters designed to provide housing and services for homeless veterans with a $100,000 investment from the county’s ARPA allocation.
	Isanti County, Minn. Before the pandemic, Isanti County Public Health and Allina Health conducted a community needs assessment that identified lack of social connection and other mental health issues as the top concerns of residents. With the pandemic exacerbating social isolation and related issues, the county launched an innovative wellbeing initiative to combat the psychological effects of the pandemic with Recovery Funds.
	New Castle County, Del. New Castle County is launching a Nurse-Family Partnership to strengthen New Castle County families. This $3 million Recovery Funds investment, in partnership with Children & Families First, will expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to an additional 120 first-time mothers, and will track them for up to three years to help ensure children’s health and wellness.

County ARP Investment Plan Database

America’s counties are on the front lines of the nation’s response to this public health and economic crisis, operating over 1,900 public health departments and nearly 1,000 hospitals, facilitating critical infrastructure and responsibly investing ARPA funds to support our residents and drive recovery in our communities.

Explore NACo's database of planned ARPA Recovery Fund investments, sourced from official county documents, including U.S. Treasury’s Recovery Plan Performance Reports, press releases and budgeting materials.

Explore the Database

Letter to the Editor Template

Press Release & Media Advisory Templates

Media Relations Guide

Video Tips

DON’T LOOK DOWN

We’ve all seen it: a video or a web chat where someone is looking down at their laptop with the camera aimed up toward their nose. It’s not a flattering look for anybody, so make sure your webcam or smartphone camera is eye-level, so you are looking directly into it. Make sure you are looking at the camera and not the screen. It’s also very important that the camera isn’t shaking or moving around too much. Things like selfie sticks and Pop Sockets are great, but you can also carefully place your phone on a bookshelf or table to get a great, stable shot.

FRAME THE SHOT 

Think about how you want this to look on the audience’s screen. If you are recording on a phone or tablet device, please position your camera horizontally! Also:

• You can frame yourself in the center or slightly to the side.
• Check your background, make sure there isn't a ton of clutter behind you. 
• When positioning yourself, be mindful of items right behind you in the shot (i.e. an indoor plant with a branch that looks like it is growing out of your head)

LIGHTING 

The best lighting is natural light. For indoor shots, try to place yourself in front of a window, always have the window in front of you, never behind. If it's really bright, you can use curtains if they are white, or pull-down shades that are translucent to soften light. Avoid any direct overhead lighting (or doing outdoor shots between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.), because it can create unattractive shadows. 

BE YOURSELF AND KEEP IT SIMPLE

People aren’t expecting perfection, they are expecting a human. Don’t be overly scripted or stiff. Talk or look at the camera as though you are talking to a person, try to picture their face and be yourself.

[Your County] has been on the front lines of the #COVID19. Our work has had a real impact on the lives and livelihoods or our residents, particularly our most vulnerable. #CountiesMatter

Post

As [your county] continues to respond to the pandemic, we are focused on serving the needs of our residents. They come first. Together, will tell the county story. #CountiesMatter

Post

[Your County] is ensuring all residents have access to the #COVID19 vaccine. [Insert county story / example]. #CountiesMatter

Throughout the pandemic, we have supported our most vulnerable residents. [Insert county story / example]. #CountiesMatter

Post

#CountiesMatter in transportation & infrastructure. [County project] has connected our residents to critical services.

#Counties are driving the recovery across the country. [County program] is supporting jobs & small businesses in our commuty. #CountiesMatter

Post

Download

Download

Download

Download

Calling all in our community: Share how local services helped you or a neighbor during these unprecedented times

Post

We are all in this together. Share your story of how we came together and supported the most vulnerable in our communities

Post

Post