NACo Achievement Award Going to Collabor8

On Monday morning, Knox County commissioners met for an update with Jobs and Family Services director Matthew Kurtz, where it was announced that the multi-country project – known as Collabor8 Virtual Call Center – has been selected as “Best of Category in Human Services” by the National Associates of Counties, where it was also designated to receive a NACo Achievement Award for 2012.

Counties partnering in the program are Delaware, Hancock, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Sandusky, and Wood. The program also utilizes call center and digital case management technology to provide access to public assistance programs across the participating counties, while simultaneously sharing the counties’ resources.

Kurtz was happy to speak about the receivers of these awards, saying, “We’re happy and proud and excited that they recognized us this way…nearly 20 years later we’re back in the spotlight.” This also wasn’t the first time that Knox Country JFS was involved with NACo’s national awards; an award was also presented to the Opportunity Knox program back in 1994.

The achievement award calls all counties with an innovative program that modernizes county government and increases services for its residents, offering national recognition for competing, outstanding programs. Having begun in 1970, the annual Achievement Award Program is a non-competitive awards program recognizing innovative county government programs. Since each application is judged on its own merits and not against other applications reviewed, it creates a genuine sense of care and consideration towards every applicant in their hard work and efforts. Awards are also given in 21 different categories, including children and youth, criminal justice, county administration, environmental protection, information technology, health, and many more.

A reception for the winners will take place at NACo’s Annual Conference in Allegheny County on Sunday, July 15 at noon.

Edited by Rachel Ramsey