Washington, DC, September 2, 2026 — The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the voice of the over 3,300 local health departments across the country, named Sara Jo Best, Public Health Director for the Lincoln Trail District Health Department in Kentucky, National Advocate of the Year at the 2026 NACCHO360 Annual Conference in Louisville, KY. The award acknowledges outstanding accomplishments related to advocacy and outreach to Congress to create better public health policy outcomes. This award recognizes an individual who has developed a meaningful relationship with a lawmaker and has become a trusted messenger and resource in public health matters.

“This recognition shines a light on the extraordinary people of local public health,” said Best. “We are out in our neighborhoods every single day—advocating for smart policies and keeping people safe—doing the daily work that makes healthy communities throughout the United States possible.”

The selection committee acknowledged Best’s excellence in advocacy for local public health. As a local health director and through her involvement in the Kentucky Health Departments Association as both a Past President and current Advocacy Committee Chair, Best has developed relationships with federal policymakers and advocated on behalf of local health departments in Kentucky and across the nation. Her expertise has helped shape policy through witness testimony and briefings, and she has worked closely with a special task force established by the Kentucky legislature to explore strategies to improve health outcomes.

“We are honored to present Sara Jo Best with the National Advocate of the Year Award,” said Lori Tremmel Freeman, NACCHO’s Chief Executive Officer. “Her efforts are not just at the federal level; Sara Jo has worked tirelessly to increase awareness of public health services and their measurable impact on Kentuckians. Sara Jo’s advocacy efforts have ensured that the voice of local public health is both trusted and heard in Washington, DC and beyond.”

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About NACCHO

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information about NACCHO, please visit www.naccho.org.