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Franklin County approves senior services extensions, equity and staff training, and mental-health digital tools
Summary
The board adopted multiple resolutions extending senior services contracts ($10M), creating a county digital accessibility position, funding training workshops, and extending a digital behavioral-health tool; commissioners framed these actions as part of broader investments in resident services and equity.
Franklin County commissioners on April 28 approved a package of resolutions aimed at sustaining and expanding social-services, workforce training and digital-accessibility work.
The board adopted Resolution 262-26, authorizing final two-year extensions and modifications for providers of senior adult day services and in-home senior supports. Shawn Dwingo, director of the Office on Aging, told commissioners the extension (May 1, 2026–April 30, 2028) will not exceed $10 million across vendors and includes a 1.5% rate increase to reflect current service-delivery costs and help sustain provider capacity.
County leaders also approved Resolution 261-26 to create a new position at the Franklin County Data Center to design and implement a countywide digital accessibility program. Julie Le said the role will help agencies meet federal mandates by making websites, mobile apps, documents and social media accessible to residents with disabilities.
Workforce and equity investments: The board approved Resolution 263-26, a $75,000 professional-services contract to continue virtual professional-development workshops with Dr. Leo Taylor focused on communication, difficult conversations, and practicing allyship; staff said the county received positive feedback from more than 700 employee evaluations in 2025. The board also welcomed the 2026–27 cohort of the Racial Equity Council under Resolution 264-26 and recognized its role in advancing equity recommendations and community projects.
Behavioral-health digital tool and early literacy: Commissioners approved Resolution 268-26, a service-extension with Credible Mind (a digital behavioral-health platform) in the amount of $45,150; staff reported more than 44,000 visitors and nearly 24,000 completed online assessments since 2021. The board also approved a $100,000 subaward (Resolution 267-26) to partner with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio and Nationwide Children's Hospital to provide free monthly books to enrolled children from birth to age five.
Why it matters: County officials framed the measures as investments to support aging residents, improve employee skills, expand access to mental-health information, and strengthen racial-equity work across county agencies. The combined actions span workforce development, digital inclusion and direct services intended to sustain service continuity and expand access.
Next steps: Staff will implement the digital accessibility program with agency partners, schedule the contracted trainings, and oversee the provider-contract extensions for senior services. The Imagination Library partnership will be administered by the county and local partners to distribute books to eligible children.
Record: These items were adopted in a single session with recorded affirmative votes by the commissioners present.
