Johnson County Government recently earned accolades for its exemplary performance from two national organizations.

The National Association of Counties gave Johnson County four achievement awards for outstanding programs. NACo, an organization that serves nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees, each year selects initiatives worthy of commendation from thousands of entries across the United States. Details on the award-winning programs are below.

Government Finance Officers’ Association

Additionally, Johnson County received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers’ Association for the county’s 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. This is a prestigious award that is won by very few governments. In Kansas, only 2 out of 105 counties won the award, and nationally, it has gone to approximately 20% of U.S. counties. This year marks the 37th consecutive certificate for Johnson County.

County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson said she was honored to receive these awards from national organizations. “Awards don’t motivate our work, but they are a validation for the hard work from Johnson County policymakers and staff,” she said. “Recognition on a national stage also allows us to gauge our performance amongst our peers, and Johnson County continues to shine.”

2025 NACo Achievement Awards

These Johnson County programs were recognized by the National Association of Counties for 2025:

Youth Stabilization Center – The YCSC serves Johnson County youth ages 10–17 experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Its purpose is to provide short-term, 24/7 support as an alternative to detention or hospitalization, helping youth stabilize and safely return home. The program then connects families to ongoing community services.

Eviction Mediation Pilot Program – Using a neutral mediator, landlords and tenants meet to settle past-rent disputes to avoid evictions and prevent homelessness. The goal is to avoid a judgment, which can stay on personal records for years, making it very difficult for renters, once evicted, to find another place to live. The pilot program was successful with 73% of mediated cases reaching an agreement (273 out of 374 cases) with no eviction judgment filed through the end of 2024. The Eviction Mediation Program (no longer a pilot) was continued in 2025.

Summer Snack Packs – In summer 2024, the Johnson County Aging & Human Services Department launched the Summer Snack Pack Program to address food insecurity among children from low-income households when school meal programs are unavailable. The program provided 403 kid-friendly lunch and snack bags to current food pantry clients, ensuring children had access to nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals during the summer.

Leadership Empowers All People – LEAP is an employee program designed to strengthen Johnson County’s organizational culture by fostering empowerment and driving the growth of a high-performing organization. By cultivating a culture that uplifts employees, encourages collaboration, and prioritizes continuous improvement, the program supports the county’s vision of creating a resilient and exceptional workforce. Through shared values, leadership development and a commitment to growth, LEAP establishes a foundation for long-term success and operational excellence.