Board of Commissioners Appoint New Director at Office on Aging
Published on February 28, 2023
Columbus, OH —The Franklin County Board of Commissioners today appointed Chanda Wingo as the Director of the Franklin County Office on Aging. Wingo, who will report to the Deputy County Administrator for Health and Human Services (HHS) Joy Bivens, will take over the role effective immediately.
“I’m ecstatic to see Chanda Wingo appointed as a permanent fixture at the Office on Aging,” said Bivens. “Her track record and previous experience proves that she has what it takes to guide this Agency to new heights. I’m confident she will do a phenomenal job.”
Wingo, who joined the Office on Aging in 2021, previously served as the Assistant Director of Operations before taking over as the Agency’s Interim Director in May 2022. During her time as Interim Director, Wingo led the Agency to adjust its Sliding Fee Scale which was last updated in 2009 and had remained unchanged for 12 years. By aligning the Sliding Fee Scale to the 2022 Home and Community
By aligning the Sliding Fee Scale to the 2022 Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Special Income Level (SIL), the Agency saw a 15% increase in residents who could get Senior Options services for free. The Agency also surpassed its 2022 key performance indicators (KPIs), which included serving over 11,000 seniors through its Seniors Options program and more than 50,000 seniors through its grant partnerships; as well as completing over 2,000 home repairs, delivering over 1.2 million free home-delivered meals, and participating in over 320 community events. 2022 also marked 30 years since the first Senior Services levy passed in 1992. The levy, which was up for renewal in the November 2022 election, passed with 78% of the vote and allowed the Agency to continue to provide services that help Franklin County seniors age in place.
“I’m honored and grateful to be appointed this opportunity with the Office on Aging,” said Wingo. “Since stepping into the Interim Director role last May, I have seen firsthand the challenges our older residents face. By being out in the community, it has allowed me to gain a better understanding of what our Agency needs to do in order to address the needs of those we serve. As I begin my tenure as Director, I’m excited to work on new Agency initiatives, as well as revamp others so we can ensure that Franklin County seniors, caregivers and their families are receiving the quality services they need in order to thrive.”
Wingo has more than 12 years’ experience working for Franklin County Health and Human services agencies. Prior to coming onboard at the Office on Aging, she served as Deputy Director of Customer Service at Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services (FCDJFS) where she was successful in transforming, innovating, and improving service delivery for diverse populations of residents in need of support due to poverty.
In addition to her work with FCDJFS, Wingo has been an advocate for changes in policy, processes, and practices as a member of the commissioners’ Racial Equity Council Operations Workgroup. Wingo’s passion and commitment to comprehend barriers to racial equity and execute organizational change has allowed her to collaborate internally across multiple departments, allowing for the real-time exchange of information, updates and effective staff training curricula to best serve Franklin County residents.
Through diverse programming, inclusive planning and individualized services, the Franklin County Office on Aging supports older adults, dependent adults as well as family members by providing resources that ensure safe and healthy environments and a responsive community to improve independent living among the County’s aging residents. The Agency provides programing for health and medical care, food and nutrition, housing security as well as supportive services for things like employment, legal aide, volunteer opportunities, caregiver and kinship support, senior fitness centers, refugee and interpretive communication.
The Office on Aging collectively serves over 60,000 seniors annually, has nearly 100 employees and is located on the third floor of Memorial Hall located at 280 East Broad Street. To learn more about the Franklin County Office on Aging and the services available, call (614) 525-6200.
The Franklin County Office on Aging (FCOA) provides centralized access to diverse services and programs that assist older adults, dependent adults and their families in the maintenance of independent living.
Learn more at Franklincountyohio.gov/officeonaging and follow FCOA on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.