The National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards program is a non-competitive awards program recognizing innovative county government programs in 18 categories covering a wide spectrum of county responsibilities.

For 2025, Clark County received three (3) NACo Achievement Awards for three (3) innovative programs aimed at improving the lives of citizens and service delivery. The three (3) Clark County programs that were recognized this year are:

• The Clark County Public Defender Drop-In Center;
• Healthy Together; and
• The Impacted Persons Database.

Commissioner Kirkpatrick led the recognition at today’s Board of County Commission Meeting.

“At Clark County, we are working to address challenges people face in our community through solutions that make a difference,” said Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick. “These three new programs are being recognized by our peer counties at a national level because they are helping to change lives for people in need of our help either through circumstance or emergency. I am proud of our departments for developing innovative solutions for our community.”

Program Name: Clark County Public Defender Drop-In Center

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Abstract: The Clark County Public Defender Drop-In Center helps reduce recidivism rates by providing a one-stop resource center designed to assist those who face challenges in completing court ordered requirements. By providing free and easy access to mental health evaluations, substance abuse assessments and court ordered classes, our drop-in centers aim is to prevent reincarceration due to a lack of resources often faced by our most vulnerable citizens of Clark County.

Program Name: Healthy Together

Category: Human Services

Abstract: Healthy Together is a Clark County Social Services initiative that is uniquely positioned to provide no cost dental care to Clark County residents by deploying the mobile office to different geographic areas throughout the community. In the current fiscal year (July 1st, 2024 – June 30th, 2025) alone, the initiative has successfully conducted over 60 mobile deployments and provided dental treatment to over 800 unduplicated southern Nevada residents. Our deployments have served youth, families, senior, justice-involved, and unhoused populations of North Las Vegas, East Las Vegas, Downtown Las Vegas, Paradise, Searchlight, and Mesquite.

Program Name: The Impacted Persons Database

Category: Risk and Emergency Management

Abstract: The Impacted Persons Database (IPD) is a comprehensive data management system created by Clark County to facilitate real-time identification and reunification of victims during mass casualty incidents through multi-agency collaboration, including hospitals, the regional health district, first responders, and emergency services. By coordinating identification and reunification processes while maintaining HIPAA compliance and privacy laws, the IPD ensures all impacted individuals can access long-term recovery services through the Resiliency and Justice Center, providing a streamlined pathway from crisis to recovery.

About Clark County

Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect, accountability, leadership, and excellence. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.4 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2023). Included are the nation’s 5th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.