America’s 3.6 million county employees are on the front lines of the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Throughout the country, EMTs, nurses, doctors and support personnel, law enforcement officials, firefighters, public health experts, human services professionals, coroners, medical examiners, and other county government employees, are saving lives and serving communities.
The We Are Counties campaign, launched today by the National Association of Counties (NACo), aims to put a face on frontline workers, while calling on federal decision-makers to provide support for these public servants.
“Dedicated county employees are addressing unprecedented challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic. The We Are Counties campaign will show everyone that counties are people – public servants who are making tremendous sacrifices, putting their own lives at risk – to save lives and keep all of us healthy and safe. That’s what makes them heroes,” said NACo President Mary Ann Borgeson, a Douglas County, Neb. commissioner.
According to NACo:
The We Are Counties social media campaign will highlight the selfless service of counties’ 328,000 hospital workers, 330,000 law enforcement officials, 93,000 first responders and many other frontline warriors in America’s battle against the coronavirus.
The campaign comes at a time when America’s counties are facing at least a $144 billion budget impact as a result of skyrocketing costs and plummeting revenues. Counties are urging federal support for counties’ vast health, safety and economic recovery responsibilities, many of which are mandated by states and the federal government.
“We have been strongly advocating for direct and flexible federal funding for county responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and our lost revenue,” Borgeson added. “These are more than just numbers in a spreadsheet. We are talking about vital services our residents need and the people who deliver them day in and day out.”
We Are Counties will feature pictures and videos of county workers across the country. Look for #WeAreCounties on social media, and learn more at www.WeAreCounties.org.
Useful Links
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NACo’s coronavirus online hub includes county examples of response efforts, interactive maps, and analyses of federal actions. View this resource-rich webpage at www.naco.org/coronavirus.