Goals team building from the ground up

By Jason King
Information and Communications Specialist

A house is only as stable as its foundation.

That’s the base philosophy of a team of NCACC employees developing projects to accomplish one of the five goals that came out of the Association’s strategic goals process.

During the Dec. 8 meeting of the NCACC Board of Directors, “Team Excel” unveiled its blueprint for “a house undivided” – a philosophical approach to a goal meant to enhance the ability of county officials to represent counties and the NCACC on local and statewide issues.

One of the major tasks the team is charged with is building a grassroots advocacy network. The blueprint concept was borne out of that task and the idea that “in unity there is strength.” In order to affect change at the state level, county commissioners and officials must build relationships with their district’s state representatives and senators. These relationships represent the foundation of “a house undivided.”

Once that foundation is in place, the Association can provide the materials and framework for presenting the county perspective on issues of statewide concern. Materials can be anything from talking points and individualized county financial impact statements to classroom-style education sessions on how to effectively lobby at the General Assembly.

The foundation and framework provide the structure for the roof, under which the Association’s elected leadership and advocacy team can come together with state officials to discuss counties’ collective legislative goals and issues of concern. Those talks can only be successful if state officials understand that their local constituency supports the position.

The goals team is currently focusing its efforts on two upcoming events: the NCACC’s district meetings in April and County Assembly Day on May 17. During the five district meetings, the NCACC’s 18 district directors will receive a “Medicaid meeting in a box,” the contents of which will help county leaders detail the impact Medicaid costs have on their budgets, and in turn on the other services that counties provide.

“Clearly there is a lot of momentum right now around Medicaid relief for counties,” said team leader Scott Horton. “One of our goals is to keep counties’ need for relief fresh in legislators’ minds. The skills our county officials will learn and materials they will receive at our district meetings should help further that cause as they hold meetings with their state representatives back home.”

Among its other projects, the team is planning a tour of the General Assembly during County Assembly Day that will help county officials learn the “lay of the land” in the Legislative Building.