Supportive Health & Human Services

Supporting the health and well-being of Franklin County residents is a core responsibility of the Board of Commissioners and central to their mission of building a thriving, resilient community. The county’s health and human services agencies provide vital support to families, children, seniors, and individuals facing economic, physical, or behavioral health challenges. Whether through access to nutritious food, safe housing, quality healthcare, or community-based support programs, the commissioners are committed to meeting people where they are and ensuring that every resident has the opportunity to live a healthy and stable life. This work is rooted in compassion, equity, and a belief that strong communities begin with strong people.

Agency Partner: Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services

Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services (JFS) envisions a community where every resident has access to opportunities for success and well-being. As the county’s primary social safety net, JFS administers key public assistance programs, including Medicaid, SNAP food assistance, childcare support, and emergency rental assistance. By providing these essential services, JFS helps create pathways to stability and long-term success for residents in need.

In 2024, nearly one-third of Franklin County residents engaged with JFS, making a significant impact on the community. The department operates three Community Opportunity Centers and a call center, serving as vital resources for residents. Beyond public assistance, JFS also funds a range of programs that support early childhood education, youth mentorship, family stability, and workforce development. Through its partnerships with local organizations, JFS is dedicated to ensuring every resident has the support needed to achieve their full potential.

2024 Department of Job and Family Services Stats:

406,000 • (1 in 4)

residents covered by Medicaid.

177,000 • (1 in 7)

residents served by SNAP food assistance.

Program Highlight: Franklin County RISE

Franklin County RISE continued to be a vital program in 2024, helping families afford child care, improving early learning quality, and supporting child care workers. Originally launched in 2022 with $23 million in federal relief funds, RISE was created to ease the strain on child care systems after the pandemic and make sure working families had the support they needed.

More than 650 scholarships were awarded to families in 2024 – with over 2,000 total since the program began.
$3.26 million went to 237 child care programs, helping providers improve services and earn higher quality ratings.
143 early learning teachers received rental assistance, supporting a workforce that is often underpaid but essential to families.
In November, the Board of Commissioners approved an additional $18 million, bringing the county’s total investment in RISE to over $40 million through 2026.

Franklin County RISE is a cornerstone of the county’s early childhood strategy – strengthening families, supporting child care providers, and building a better future for young children.

Agency Partner: Franklin County Office on Aging

The Franklin County Office on Aging is a cornerstone of the community, dedicated to enriching the lives of older and dependent adults. FCOA offers a range of services, including home-delivered meals, personal care, respite care, and minor home repairs, to support the health and independence of older adults in Franklin County.

Through a holistic approach, the agency empowers individuals to maintain their independence and navigate the challenges of aging. By prioritizing the well-being of its senior population, the Office on Aging fosters a community where older residents can thrive, remain engaged, and continue to contribute to the vibrancy of their neighborhoods.

Program Highlight: Mission Pawsible

Mission Pawsible is a Franklin County initiative designed to pair older adults with pets to help reduce isolation and loneliness. The partnership with the Franklin County Office on Aging and the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Centers aims to improve the lives of both senior dogs and senior citizens by facilitating meaningful connections and companionship.

2024 Office on Aging Stats:

99,178

seniors served.

17,809

clients enrolled in Senior Options Program.

1,200

COVID kits provided to seniors.

2.7 Million

home meals delivered.

1.4 Million

miles of transportation provided.

2,343

cases investigated by Adult Protective Services.

112,862

hours of respite care provided.

554

community events attended.

1,335

box fans provided to senior residents during the summer.

Access to quality, affordable mental health and addiction services, regardless of insurance status and ability to pay, is essential and non-negotiable. The services ADAMH funds through its network providers are critical to the community’s social safety net. They help ensure that individuals with behavioral health challenges receive the most appropriate care for their needs, are stabilized in the community and ultimately live more productive and healthier lives.

~ Erika Clark Jones, ADAMH CEO

Community Partner: ADAMH

The Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH) helps residents access critical mental health and addiction services by funding more than 30 nonprofit providers across the community. While ADAMH doesn’t offer direct care, it makes sure services are available where people need them most – including treatment, crisis help, housing, prevention, recovery, and family support.

In 2023, nearly 96,000 people received help through ADAMH’s network. That includes over 20,000 individuals who received clinical or supportive services, and 75,000 youth reached through prevention efforts in all 16 public school districts. Services are especially focused in neighborhoods with higher poverty and health disparities.

Agency Partner: Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency

The Franklin County Child Support Program helps build stronger, healthier families by ensuring children receive consistent financial, medical, and emotional support from both parents. Serving over 100,000 parents and 75,000 children, the program plays a critical role in family stability – especially for low-income households – by helping cover essentials like rent, food, and school supplies. For some families living below the poverty line, child support can make up as much as 65% of their income.

In addition to managing child support orders and payments, the program connects families with resources through community outreach, partnerships, and grants that focus on engaging fathers, promoting economic stability, and supporting survivors of family violence. Child Support is more than a financial service – it’s a key part of Franklin County’s Health and Human Services system, working to improve outcomes for children and reduce long-term hardship.

Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency

Child Support Payments: Disbursed $139.3 million in child support payments to families, helping ensure financial stability.
Service to Parents and Children: Served 102,196 parents and 75,295 children through active child support caseloads.
Paternity Connection: Connected 487 children to their fathers, fostering stronger family relationships.
Impact on Low-Income Families: For families living below the poverty line, child support accounted for an average of 41% of household income.
Support for Families in Extreme Poverty: For families living below 50% of the poverty line, child support made up 65% of household income, providing vital financial support.
Staff Training and Policy Review: Enhanced staff training and policy reviews through the Safe Access for Victims’ Economic Security grant to improve services and support.

Program Highlight: NACo

In 2024, Franklin County received three national Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for outstanding health and human service programs led by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. These awards recognize programs that are making a real difference in the lives of local residents by improving access to services and strengthening support systems.

One award went to Franklin County RISE, an initiative from Job and Family Services focused on improving childcare. The program helps close gaps in access and affordability, making it easier for families to find quality care so parents can work and children can thrive.

The second award recognized the Office on Aging’s Bridge Team program, which brings services directly to older adults, caregivers, and kinship families. This team helps residents navigate available support, making it faster and easier to get the help they need.

The third award honored the SAFER Station (Stop Addiction for Everyone Resource), created by the Office of Justice Policy and Programs. Located in an area with high overdose rates, SAFER Station connects people struggling with addiction to treatment and recovery services, helping them get support in a safe, welcoming environment.

These programs are all part of the Franklin County Commissioners’ efforts to create healthier, stronger communities. By focusing on real needs and removing barriers to services, the County is being recognized nationally as a leader in effective, people-first government.

Agency Partner: Franklin County Veterans Service Commission

The Franklin County Veterans Service Commission (FCVSC) delivers needs-based services to Veterans, their families, and surviving spouses, helping to meet fundamental needs like housing, nutrition, transportation, and healthcare. The agency also supports veterans in accessing benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – many of which go unclaimed due to lack of awareness. Founded in 1861 during the Civil War, FCVSC continues its legacy of care through a veteran-centered approach rooted in empathy and service.

In 2024, FCVSC provided financial aid, food assistance, and access to vital services for thousands of Franklin County Veterans. With a team composed entirely of veterans or their immediate family members, the agency goes beyond temporary financial relief by partnering with county Health and Human Services agencies, the VA, and local nonprofits to connect veterans to physical and mental health care, employment resources, and other long-term supports. This holistic model supports the well-being, dignity, and independence of those who have served.

2024 Franklin County Veterans Service Commission Stats:

6,902

applications submitted for financial assistance.

98%

received full or partial funding.

1.8 Million

food cards provided to over 5,500 Veterans.

$1,455,000

rent and mortgage assistance.

1,000

VA benefits applications filed.

1,294

applicants received $200 Holiday Meal food cards.

$308,000

dental services.

250

financial coaching sessions completed.

16,000

transportation trips to and from medical appointments.

Program Highlight: One Door

The One Door initiative, a new health and human services project by the Franklin County Commissioners, has been developed throughout 2024 and will officially open in 2025. This initiative combines services from five key county agencies – Office on Aging, Child Support Enforcement, Job and Family Services, Justice Policy and Programs, and Veterans Services – into a single, streamlined system. It aims to make it easier for residents to access essential health and human services, such as housing, family support, and healthcare, all under one roof. By simplifying the process, One Door ensures that residents can receive the support they need quickly and efficiently without navigating multiple agencies and locations. The unified approach promotes better coordination between services, helping meet families where they are at.

"One Door isn’t an ordinary transactional resource, it’s a philosophy rooted in equity and designed to empower every resident. This initiative is a game changer, meeting residents where they are with dignity, compassion, and opportunities to thrive." ~ Commissioner Erica C. Crawley

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