Blog Post | June 2026
Since 1970, the National Association of Counties (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 across the United States.
We are proud to share that the Harris County Accessible Child Care Training Supports (ACCTS) program has been recognized with a 2026 NACo Achievement Award. This honor reflects the program’s strong impact in strengthening the early childhood workforce across Harris County, including supporting 176 participants in earning Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials, guiding 302 educators through training and professional development milestones, and surpassing all outreach efforts.
The ACCTS program aims to enhance the knowledge, skills, and career advancement of the child care workforce (including educators at or below 300% of the federal poverty level) in Harris County through high-quality professional development and credentialing opportunities. This initiative is a collaboration between the Children’s Learning Institute at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity–Early Childhood Initiatives Division. It is a core component of Harris County’s Early Childhood Strategic Plan, fulfilling the County’s mandate to leverage American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to improve child care quality and workforce stability.
Congratulations to everyone whose dedication made this achievement possible and continues to enhance outcomes for early childhood educators.
Achievement Award Recipients