County departments receive national recognition for projects
Published on August 13, 2025
Weld County is proud to be the recipient of three 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards. On Wednesday, the board of commissioners took time during their meeting to recognize each department for this outstanding accomplishment.
Since 1970, the NACo Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding county government programs and services. Through a non-competitive application process, noteworthy programs receive awards in 18 categories that cover a vast range of county responsibilities.
The Weld County Department of Human Services received an Achievement Award for its determination to assist residents — particularly veterans, children, older adults and/or disabled residents — via the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children (ICPC). ICPC ensures the safe and timely placement of children across state lines and establishes a structured process for interjurisdictional placements, prioritizing child safety and suitability. The ICPC facilitates ongoing supervision, service delivery, and communication between states. It mandates uniform data collection and information sharing, promoting collaboration with other relevant compacts. Critically, the ICPC maintains a state's legal jurisdiction and responsibility for a child even when placed out-of-state, mirroring intrastate placements. Finally, it encourages collaboration with Indian tribes to develop guidelines for interstate cases involving Indian children, as permitted by federal law. The program was showcased through a County Roots story called Crafting a Legislative Link to Kids and Families.
The Department of Public Health and Environment received its Achievement Award for the Heart of Weld (Diabetes Prevention Program). The primary goal of Heart of Weld is to improve diabetes outcomes, especially among low-income, at-risk populations in Weld County. Heart of Weld works to make it easier for Medicaid recipients residing in Weld County with prediabetes to participate in a culturally relevant, high-quality lifestyle change program to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and improve their overall health. As of December 30, 2024, Heart of Weld increased the number of priority participants (Medicaid recipients) enrolled in the lifestyle change program by 42.9%.
Weld County’s Department of Public Works received an award for its use of drones to fight noxious weeds. The department’s Weed Division started using a spray drone in 2024 to treat noxious weeds in difficult to reach locations that had the potential to be unsafe for employees to enter, such as wetlands and stockpiles. This resulted in increased quality of control in a safer setting for employees providing less exposure as well as offered quicker treatment times improving the efficiency of the team. The spray drone allows the division to be efficient with its time, energy, and resources, meet state requirements, and minimize impacts on the environment, native wildlife, and beneficial plants. The drone’s success was highlighted in a County Roots story.
Read more about these departments by visiting https://www.weld.gov/Government.