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October 2026
Franklin County Public Health wants to stay connected with our partners in creating informed and healthy communities. This newsletter is here to serve as a tool for you to share resources for your community, schools, and families in your district.
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H.R. 1 or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in 2025, limits Medicaid eligibility to only U.S. Citizens and qualified Legal Permanent Residents / green card holders. Some Cuban and Haitian nationals may still qualify.
Effective Oct. 1, 2026, lawful immigrants, refugees and non-citizens with special humanitarian status will no longer be eligible for Medicaid unless they have obtained a green card and have completed the 5-year waiting period or qualify for an exemption to the waiting period.
Residents who do not meet the updated eligibility criteria may be eligible for Non-Citizen Emergency Medical Assistance (NCEMA) and may also review private health coverage options at Healthcare.gov.
Franklin County Jobs and Family services have updated their website to reflect the eligibility changes and hosted a community townhall to provide additional details about next steps. The presentation is available for reference. Additional support documents are linked below.
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Epidemiology Report
Review the October Epidemiology report.
Respiratory Season Guidance
Each year, respiratory viruses like the flu, COVID-19 and RSV make millions of people sick, and can even lead to hospitalizations and deaths for people who are at higher risk. The good news is
there are actions you can take to help protect yourself and your loved ones to stay safe and healthy during respiratory virus season.
Get your reccomended immunizations.
The single best way to reduce the risk of COVID or the flu, and potentially serious complications, is to get your recommended vaccines each year. FCPH offers monthly immunization clinics in multiple locations throughout Franklin County. Flu, Covid-19, and RSV Immunizations are now available at FCPH clinics. To schedule an appointment, visit myfcph.org/vaccines/.
- Don't forget - we still have one more extended hour back-to-school vaccination clinic, scheduled on October 8. Get additional details on our back-to-school flyer.
Practice good hygiene.
- Wash your hands frequently
- Clean commonly touched services
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze
Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth.
Germs from respiratory illnesses enter your body through your nose, eyes and mouth. If you have any germs on your hands, they can easily enter your body if you touch your face.
Stay home when you are sick.
If possible avoid close contact with others and stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick to prevent others from getting sick.
For more information to reduce your risks during respiratory virus season, please visit the CDCs website.
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 Program Overview: In 2023, the Franklin County Public Health Transitional Housing Program launched with the purpose of providing temporary and permanent housing to Franklin County residents who are housing insecure. The program has three components for residents to participate in during the 90-day program.
Program Updates for 2026: From April - September 15, 60 residents and their families were referred to the most recent cohort of the Franklin County Transitional Housing program. Of the 60 Cohort III/IV clients referred, 52 were enrolled with an FCPH Community Health Worker and 48 were placed in temporary housing.
As of September 15, 81% of enrolled Cohort III/IV clients are currently active in the program. Overall, 13 clients have successfully moved into permanent housing, and 3 clients have permanent housing approved and in progress.
The FCPH Care Coordination Program is currently experiencing a 6-to-8-week waitlist to connect referred clients with a Community Health Worker (CHW). The referral system remains open, however if someone in your jurisdiction has an immediate need, please contact the Care Coordination team directly to assist with general information and resource referral connections.
The Centers for Disease Control awarded FCPH with Year 4 funding of the Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdoses through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A LOCAL) grant. For year 4, the agency received full funding and secured additional funding for the 2026 - 2027 grant cycle. Entering this grant cycle, FCPH is partnering with 10 community organizations and an external evaluator to achieve grant strategies.
FCPH will also focus on sustainable programming, enhancing collaborative partnerships and expanding OD2A and Recover For Life messaging. The OD2A program remains focused on linking people to treatment, preventing overdoses through resources and education, building systems to enhance data collection and programming, and community drug sample testing and analysis.
Several Franklin County fire departments are hosting open houses and family-friendly community safety events in honor of Fire Prevention Week, which is October 4 - 10.
This year’s theme is “Charge Into Fire Safety™. Safe Charging Is a Superpower.” It focuses on the everyday charging habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires and keep homes and communities safer. Plug in. Power up. Stay safe.
Clinton Township
Saturday, October 10 from noon to 2 p.m.
3820 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus
More information available on the flyer.
Grandview Heights
Tuesday, October 6
Fire Bay at City Hall from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
1525 Goodale Boulevard, Grandview Heights
Truro Township
Sunday, October 11 from 11a.m. to 2 p.m.
6305 Livingston Avenue, Reynoldsburg
More information available on the flyer.
CFD's Fall Community Safety Day
Saturday, October 24 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Dr. Ned Pettus Jr. Fire Training Academy
3639 Parsons Ave, Columbus
More information available on the flyer.
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October 7, 8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
FCOA Buckeye Tailgate Party at Memorial Hall, 280 E. Broad Street, Columbus 43215
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October 9, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Clinton Township Women’s Produce Market at 3820 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus 43224
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October 13, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Eastside CHAT tabling at Whitehall Library at 4445 E. Broad Street, Columbus 43213
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October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Clinton Township Women’s Self Defense Class at 3820 Cleveland Avenue Columbus 43224
- October 15, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
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Canal Winchester CHAT tabling at Canal Winchester Library at 123 Groveport Road, Canal Winchester 43110
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October 23, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Clinton Township Women’s Produce Market at 3820 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, 43224
For more information, visit our website.
Training Opportunity: Responding Effectively to Complex Incidents (MGT-308)
Franklin County Public Health is pleased to host Responding Effectively to Complex Incidents (MGT-308), a two-day, FEMA-funded training designed to help emergency response professionals manage complex incidents and strengthen multiagency coordination, on November 3 & 4, 2026.
Registration is due by October 13, 2026. This training is ideal for professionals in:
- Public Health
- Emergency Management
- Fire Services
- Law Enforcement
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- 911 Dispatch
- Public Works
Participants will learn strategies for establishing unified command, coordinating response efforts, and managing competing priorities during complex incidents. More information available on the flyer.
 September was National Preparedness Month. The Franklin County Public Health Emergency Preparedness team offered trainings and presentations about preparedness, led the agency participation in a multi-agency response center in Reynoldsburg, facilitated a Regional Drop Site training in collaboration with our partners at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective and joined the Health is Real Podcast team for a preparedness focused conversation.
The culminating event occured when FCPH staff from across the agency joined partners for a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) on Thursday, September 16.
The exercise simulated an aircraft emergency involving a narrow-body commercial aircraft with 141 people on board. In the scenario, the aircraft experienced a right main landing gear collapse, causing the right engine to strike the pavement and resulting in a fire that spread along the fuselage.
Exercises like this help local agencies and community partners practice their response, coordination, and communication during a large-scale emergency. The exercise tested several key response capabilities, including:
- Fire management and suppression
- Mass care services
- Operational coordination
- Public information and warning
- Situational assessment
- Operational communications
- Fatality management services
FCPH’s participation helps strengthen coordination with emergency response partners and supports our community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.
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September 30 was International Podcast Day but we think it’s always a good day to give a listen to the FCPH podcast Health is Real. We have officially been on the airwaves for two years so there are plenty of episodes and topics to choose from. Everything from mosquitos to public health at the movies. Addiction and recovery to back to school immunizations. No matter your interest, there is an episode for everyone. Listen to Health is Real wherever you get your podcasts including the FCPH website.
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The next Engagement and Access Council (EAC) meeting will be held in-person on Monday, October 26 from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. at the Franklin County Forensic Center, 2090 Frank Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43223.
The agenda will be shared prior to the meeting date. Contact Co-Chairs, Lisa Dent and Theresa Seagraves for more information.
October is National Farm to School Month. Celebrate with us by crunching into an apple on Ohio's Great Apple Crunch Day, on October 8.
It’s a fun and educational way to promote healthy eating, support local farmers, and highlight the importance of local foods. In addition, you will be joining Ohio schools, families, farmers, workplaces, and communities to crunch into some locally grown, delicious apples! The Franklin County Board of Health has plans to celebrate later this month at the October Board meeting.
More information about Ohio's Great Apple Crunch Day can be found on .
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FCPH recently convened the Franklin County Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACEs) Coalition. The meeting was led by the three co-chairs of the coalition and was well attended with more than 50 people including 10 new members. The coalition heard a presentation from ADAMH about school district priorities and discussed adopting a new logo and name in the next few weeks. The coalition also heard updates from several of the coalition workgroups.
 Last week FCPH hosted an informative and impactful Health Works Franklin County coalition meeting at the Columbus Metropolitan Library - Gahanna Branch.
We welcomed more than 60 partners from local schools, non-profits, county agencies, health care, social service agencies, libraries and local government including Gahanna Mayor Laurie Jadwin for progress updates on the Franklin County 2026- 2030 Community Health Improvement Plan and an introduction and overview of the Columbus Public Health Community Health Improvement Plan.
The meeting featured and a thought provoking panel discussion on housing in Central Ohio featuring representatives from Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio, the Community Shelter Board, Franklin County Office of Economic Planning and Development, the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, and the Franklin County Public Health Transitional Housing program.
If you're interested in joining the next Health Works Franklin County meeting please register here.
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The 2027 food licensing renewal window is right around the corner however its important to note that the licensing period does not cover a typical calendar year.
To prepare for renewals, food establishments can log into their Accela customer account in advance and check the “My Records” tab to ensure they are connected to all of their licensed food facility records. Vendors are advised to contact the FCPH Food Safety team for assistance if they are missing a record or cannot log-in.
For those who like to plan ahead, food establishments can start submitting online payments for license renewal using a credit or debit card beginning February 1, 2027.
Operators who have sold their business must notify FCPH to place their license status as out of business as licenses do not transfer to new owners. All change of ownerships are required to go through an FCPH plan review.
Last week was the final week for trapping and testing mosquitoes for 2026. This also means the end of area-wide truck sprays. We will continue to respond to service requests, so please encourage any residents with mosquito complaints to either call (614) 525-BITE (2483) or fill out our
We caught over 194,000 mosquitoes this year. Of those mosquitoes, more than 120,000 were Culex mosquitoes, which are capable of transmitting West Nile virus (WNV). In addition, we had a total of 662 WNV positive pools of mosquitoes and are expecting additional test results from the Ohio Department of Health covering the last two weeks of surveillance.
Please find additional information on our , and data for all sprays in the completed at the bottom of the page. Please reach out to , Community Environmental Health Supervisor, with any questions.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine joined the Columbus Crew today at Kae Avenue Elementary in Whitehall earlier this week for a pep rally and special event highlighting their combined work to bring vision services directly to schools to help students learn their best.
Every elementary school student in the Whitehall City School district received vision services through a combined effort between The Ohio Student Eye Exam (OhioSEE) and Columbus Crew. Vision to Learn, OhioSEE’s optical partner, provided comprehensive eye exams and glasses fittings for students in second and third grades at Beechwood and Etna Road elementary schools.
The OhioSEE Program is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Ohio children by providing eye care services for kindergarten through third-grade students. This initiative provides essential eye care services for students, aiming to improve the health and well-being of Ohio’s children and helping them thrive in school and beyond.
Learn more about the OhioSee Program and how to enroll.
In partnership with the City of Bexley and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), Green Bexley has launched new pilot program in central Ohio aiming to help the environment through the use of re-usable to-go food containers.
The containers are made of stainless steel and durable plastic lids. Green Bexley worked on bringing them to the community for most of 2026 and launched the pilot program in September. The containers are available at six Bexley restaurants — Kittie’s Cafe, Harvest Pizzeria, Khaab Indian Kitchen and Bar, Moshi Suhi, Peking Dynasty, and Zencha Bexley. Containers can be returned to any of the participating restaurants. People who want to take part do no have to live in Bexley.
To learn more about Green Bexley and their sustainability efforts please visit the Green Bexley website.
2026 Health Literacy Conference Information
National Period Day Flyer
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The next jurisdiction update will be sent on
Friday, November 6, 2026.
Visit fcphcommunityhub.org for the latest information.
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