Cook County Honored with Record 78 National Association of Counties Achievement Award

Today the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution recognizing Cook County’s 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards. The County was honored with 78 national awards that highlight effective, innovative government programs which improve services for residents, advance equity and respond to critical needs across communities.

“These awards are a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our employees who work every day to make government more accessible, equitable and effective,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “We’re proud to be recognized nationally for programs that put residents first and reflect our core values of innovation, justice and service.”

The awards span areas such as health equity, digital inclusion, sustainability, housing access and workforce protection. Winning programs demonstrate Cook County’s commitment to creating responsive and people-centered public services.

Among this year’s standout award winners:

Community of Care – Justice Advisory Council

The Community of Care is a 14-month human-centered leadership development initiative designed to support 150 community-based violence prevention organizations funded by the County’s Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant initiative. The program focused on trust-building and connection through arts-based programming, reflection cohorts and in-person gatherings, such as poetry workshops, mural-making and a pop-up choir. 188 participants were engaged over the project period, which resulted in reduced burnout, increased collaboration and a stronger sense of community across organizations working under the immense pressure of the gun violence crisis.

Fair Housing Advertising Campaign –Department of Human Rights and Ethics

The Department of Human Rights and Ethics launched its first-ever multimedia fair housing advertising campaign, using local bus routes, social media and Streetwise Magazine to garner over 5.7 million impressions between September and November 2024. The campaign educated residents about their housing rights under the Just Housing Amendment and generated direct outreach from residents seeking support. In addition to the campaign, the Commission trained 775 individuals and distributed outreach materials to over 78 organizations across Cook County.

Healthy Work Initiative, Worker Protection Program – Cook County Health

This public health program developed a regional infrastructure for workplace health, safety and co-enforcement strategies. It reached over 250,000 workers with health and safety training, coordinated over 1,000 direct enforcement actions and built a governance network of labor, academic and government stakeholders. The initiative delivered over one million public communications about labor protections and created a strategic feedback loop for identifying workplace hazards in real time.

Equity Fund Purchase Assistance Program – Cook County Land Bank Authority

This program offers up to $20,000 in down payment assistance for residents purchasing homes through the Cook County Land Bank Authority or its developers. Since 2023, the initiative has helped over 50 low- to moderate-income buyers close on formerly vacant or abandoned properties in disinvested areas of Cook County. The effort directly addresses homeownership and racial wealth disparities, pairing affordability with a sustainable model that reinvests revenues from property sales.

Dollars and Sense – Bureau of Economic Development

Offered in partnership with Working Credit, this financial counseling program provided 12 months of personalized one-on-one support to residents participating in the County’s guaranteed income pilot. Participants achieved an average 39-point increase in credit scores, with 22% reaching “prime” credit status. The effort also included a 17-part video series on personal finance, helping residents access safer financial products and long-term financial security.

Oak Forest Salvage Donation – Bureau of Asset Management

As part of the County’s Salvage Program, over 1,000 items of clothing and shoes from the closed Oak Forest Hospital were inventoried and donated to organizations such as New Life Center, Soles for Souls and John H. Stroger Hospital’s Inpatient Care Coordination Program. This donation supported recently arrived residents and embodied the County’s commitment to sustainability and equitable asset reuse.

Digital Inclusion Week – Office of the President

In 2024, Cook County coordinated more than 50 Digital Inclusion Week events, including digital skills classes, device distributions and community conversations hosted across libraries and community centers. Events reached thousands of residents, bridging broadband gaps and increasing digital literacy. In partnership with the City of Chicago, the County expanded outreach, engaged dozens of organizations and strengthened the region’s digital equity ecosystem.

Awards are given in 18 categories and reflect the breadth of services provided by county governments. Cook County’s award-winning submissions are selected based on their innovation, measurable impact and potential to be replicated nationwide. To learn more about the National Association of Counties Achievement Awards, visit www.naco.org.