David Thielen, Executive Director of Linn County Community Services (LCCS), was recently re-appointed to the National Association of Counties Human Services and Education (HSE) Policy Steering Committee for the upcoming 2019/2020 year. The NACo steering committee members play a critical role in advancing legislative and policy priorities important to the nation’s counties. Specifically, steering committee members help to establish the goals and policy priorities of the association, and committee appointments run from August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020.
Throughout the year, committee members participate in regular conference calls and receive email updates from NACo staff to stay up to date on matters relevant to the committee’s work. NACo’s Human Services and Education Steering Committee (often referred to as “HSE” in committee emails) has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
At the NACo legislative and annual conferences, the 10 policy steering committees meet to hear federal legislative and policy updates, discuss best practices and advise the NACo Board of Directors and voting delegates on pending policy changes. As a member of a steering committee, Thielen may introduce policy resolutions and platform changes and vote on other proposed resolutions and platform changes within the jurisdiction of the committee.
Thielen, who has served as the LCCS Executive Director since April of 2017, has over 20 years of management and volunteer experience in the social service, non-profit agencies that served homeless, domestic violence victims, childcare/childcare assistance, housing assistance, disabled individuals, and wellness at the YMCA, Waypoint Services, Willis Dady Homeless Shelter, Big Brother/Big Sister, and The Arc of East Central Iowa before coming to Linn County. David has previously taught at the University of Dubuque and the University of Wisconsin.
About NACo
The National Association of Counties (NACo) unites America’s 3,069 county governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills, pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public’s understanding of county government and exercise exemplary leadership in public service. Learn more at naco.org.