Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County has been recognized with six Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents. Oakland County’s Department of Communications, Board of Commissioners, Health Division and Parks won awards in various categories. Below is a brief description of each submission.

Transit Education Campaign
The Transit Education Campaign was submitted by the Department of Communications in the Civic Education and Public Information category. During this campaign, Oakland County used a multi-prong approach to educate residents about the 2022 Oakland Transit millage, which was approved by voters.

Anti Violence Initiative
Anti Violence Initiative was submitted by the Board of Commissioners in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety category. This initiative was created in response to the mass shooting at Oxford High School in 2021, which included the Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Pilot Program and a Gun Buyback Pilot Program.

Invasive Spongy Moth Prevention
The Invasive Spongy Moth Prevention program was submitted by the Board of Commissioners in the Health category. The program provides matching grants to communities around the county that are experiencing a spongy moth outbreak.

Oakland County Harm Reduction Program
Oakland County Harm Reduction Program was submitted by the Health Division in the Health category. In the fall of 2020, the State of Michigan approached Oakland County Health Division to launch the first Harm Reduction program in Oakland County. Harm Reduction is a strategy that engages people who use drugs to prevent overdoses and infectious disease transmission, improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of those served, and increase access to substance use treatment and other health care services.

Oxford Families and Local Business
Oxford Families and Local Business was submitted by the Board of Commissioners in the Health category. After the Oxford High School shooting, the Oxford Response Ad Hoc Committee created the Mental Health Assistance for Oxford Families Insurance Co-pay and Deductible Relief Program and the Oxford Area Economic Recovery Program.

Disability Dirt Days
Disability Dirt Days submitted by Oakland County Parks in the Parks and Recreation category. Parks founded Disability Dirt Days where volunteer off-road vehicle (ORV) drivers take participants with disabilities for rides around Holly Oaks ORV Park.

“We’re proud of the quality services and programs that Oakland County provides its residents, businesses and communities,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “We’re honored that NACo has recognized the work we do to ensure that we’re always and in All Ways, Moving Forward in Oakland County.”

Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards are given in 18 categories that reflect the comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, county administration, information technology, health and civic engagement. Launched in 1970, the program is designed to recognize innovation in county government.

“The Achievement Awards demonstrate excellence in county government and the commitment to serve our residents every day,” said NACo President Denise Winfrey. “This year’s winners represent some of the most innovative and collaborative efforts we have seen in over 50 years of presenting these awards.

For more information about NACo’s Achievement Awards, click here.

About the National Association of Counties

The National Association of Counties (NACo) strengthens America’s counties, including nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. Founded in 1935, NACo advocates for county government priorities in federal policymaking; promotes exemplary county policies and practices; nurtures leadership skills and expands knowledge networks; optimizes county and taxpayer resources and cost savings; and enriches the public’s understanding of county government.

June 1, 2023, OAKLAND COUNTY, MI. – In partnership with Macomb and Wayne, Oakland County has launched a survey to help understand access to broadband, also known as high-speed internet, around the region. The survey will help local officials determine where infrastructure and service must be improved to meet the modern needs of residents. The effort is a result of a pledge county commissioners made during the 2022 Tri-County Summit to collaborate and share resources in order to make a greater impact collectively.

“This project is a top priority for our county, and it demonstrates how our region is working together better than ever,” Oakland County Board Chair David T. Woodward said. “The results from this survey are critical to maximizing our access to resources so we can address barriers.”

It is critical that all residents complete the survey and provide accurate information. Results will identify areas of Michigan that do not have high-speed internet or have poor internet service, plus areas where service is unaffordable.

“Widespread and affordable access to broadband service is more important than ever for our residents, our students and our businesses,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “This survey is the first step toward identifying gaps in service so we can make the necessary investments to ensure equitable access to the internet.”

To identify gaps in internet service and affordability issues, the three counties have partnered with Merit Network, a Michigan-based nonprofit to develop a survey and promotional materials to reach all properties in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties. The effort is part of Merit’s Michigan Moonshot initiative, which aims to leverage partnerships to connect everyone in Michigan regardless of geography.

Residents can visit MichiganMoonshot.org/Tri-County-Broadband to complete the brief survey. Paper surveys are available upon request by calling 313-625-0029.

• Oakland County with United Way for Southeastern Michigan awarded Out of School Time grant funding to support students negatively impacted by COVID-19.
• The grant was divided among 30 applicants who had paused or reduced their social-emotional and academic enrichment programming due to the pandemic.
• The Out of School grant is estimated to serve 11,820 children ages 0-18 in community and school settings.

Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County, in partnership with the United Way For Southeastern Michigan, has awarded a $4.8 million grant to 30 organizations with programs focusing on children and teenagers. The Out of School grant, which will serve more than 11,000 children, supports multipurpose activities such as clubs and afterschool care, specialty programs such as coding, music, and sports, and academics such as reading or math tutoring and summer
learning programs.

“Having healthy residents is one of Oakland County’s strategic goals and that includes behavioral health for our residents. The Out of School grant is part of an unprecedented $24 million investment to improve and expand mental health services to all residents in Oakland County,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said.

At the start of the pandemic, the National Education Association underscored that social-emotional learning is not only vital to students’ academics but to relationship skills and self-awareness as well.

“There is plenty of evidence that our students were especially impacted by the COVID pandemic, experiencing learning delays, and loss of social and emotional support networks. The Out of School grants are expected to serve an estimated 11,000 children, with many of the programs beginning in the coming weeks as school breaks for the summer,” Coulter said.

Joining Coulter at the announcement at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) were Dr. Tarek M. Sobh, president of Lawrence Technological University (LTU); Lisa Kujawa, vice president for enrollment Management and outreach for LTU; and representatives from the YMCA, Holly School District, and Pontiac Parks and Recreation – all organizations conducting summer programming through the Out of School Time grant.

LTU’s grant will fund 100 full scholarships to its summer science, technology, and design camps for students from 10 different communities in Oakland County. Students who live in Hazel Park, Holly Township, Keego Harbor, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pontiac, Southfield, Walled Lake, Wixom, or
Royal Oak Township can use the code “Oakland” at checkout for the full scholarship, a value of up to $950. The registration deadline is June 10. For the full list of options, visit https://www.ltu.edu/summer-camps/.

“We look forward to seeing 100 students from these communities to experience college life, make new friends, and learn about the sciences and technologies that interest them the most,” LTU President Tarek M. Sobh said. “And we thank United Way for Southeastern Michigan for making these valuable and rewarding experiences possible for more youth.”

Other recipients include the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit for drop-in programming, summer camps, youth sports, and Girls on the Run; Holly Area Schools for a summer camp for kindergarten students in five northern Oakland County communities; and the City of Pontiac for academic and social emotion learning supports after school. Also, the Ennis Center in Pontiac is offering art therapy classes and Accent Pontiac has a music program for 75 students.

The Out of School grant is also estimated to provide opportunities to more than 5,700 children living in cities with households earning below the Federal Poverty Level or below the ALICE Threshold (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), including Pontiac, Hazel Park, and Southfield.

“We are proud to continue supporting programs for students and families across Oakland County,” said Tonya Adair, chief people, equity, and engagement officer, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. ”These grants will provide much-needed resources to address learning loss and provide critical socialization opportunities for young people. We are grateful for Executive Coulter’s leadership and the collaboration resources to make sure every Oakland County student has quality experiences and every opportunity to succeed, recover, and thrive.”

The Out of School grant is divided into four grant categories. Below is a complete list of grants and their recipients.

Community Level Grant ($250,001-$400,000)

• City of Pontiac
• YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit
• Oakland University Center for Autism
• Detroit Zoological Society

Program Expansion Grant ($100,001-$250,000)

• Hazel Park Schools
• Franklin Wright Settlements
• Cranbrook Educational Community
• Center for Success Network
• Lawrence Technological University
• Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit
• West Bloomfield School District
• Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
• Ferndale Schools

Operational Support Grant ($30,000-$100,000)

• Ennis Center
• Catholic Charities of Southeastern Michigan
• Midnight Golf Program
• Boys & Girls Club of Troy
• Academy of the Sacred Heart
• On My Own Michigan
• Accent Pontiac
• D.R.I.V.E. One
• The Color of Autism Foundation

Restarting Program Grant ($30,000-$100,000)

• Connecting Through the Arts & Education DBA Scuola Creativa
• Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program
• Friendship Circle
• Read to a Child, Inc.
• Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan
• E-Community Outreach Services
• Urban League of Detroit & Southeastern Michigan
• Holly Area Schools