Tioga County Public Health Director receives honors for completing County Government Institute

Tioga County Public Health Director Lisa McCafferty was honored by the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) for graduating from the County Government Institute. The ceremony was held at the NYSAC Fall Seminar in Rochester last month.

The educational program is a collaborative effort between NYSAC and Cornell University to provide training to county leaders. Curriculum includes required courses on building consensus, financial management, ethics, management, and the foundations of county government.

“Recognizing that counties are the cornerstone of any governmental structure, I heartily recommend this curriculum to anyone who serves in any public capacity,” said McCafferty.

McCafferty began her career as an Environmental Sanitarian. Subsequently, she has worked in all aspects of Public Health to include disease control and surveillance, environmental protection, personal health; in both the public and private sectors. 

“County leaders graduate from the Institute’s vigorous curriculum equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the increasing demands of local government leadership – now and in the future,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario.

Empowering county leaders to engage in civil and constructive dialogue on the challenges they face, the Institute serves as a platform throughout the State to meet and discuss the unique issues of county government.

Charles H. Nesbitt Jr., NYSAC president and chief administrative officer of Orleans County, encourages county leaders like Gates to participate in Institute to work collaboratively to learn and develop solutions and strategies for local government.

“Graduating from the County Government Institute demonstrates a distinct and special commitment to public service at the local level,” said Nesbitt.

CGI courses are offered at NYSAC’s Fall Seminar in addition to an annual Legislative Conference in February, and Finance School in May. Courses are also offered regionally throughout the year to enable county leaders to stay up-to-date on timely issues and opportunities in local government.

“CGI facilitated my learning about New York’s county structure, I especially valued the ‘Foundations of County Government’ and ‘County Budget and Finance’ core courses,” said McCafferty.

Elected and appointed county officials can register for the Institute and actively participate in its programs, policy forums and informational sessions. For more information about the County Government Institute, visit www.nysac.org/cgi. 

The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving the counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC’s mission is to represent, educate and advocate for Member Counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.