News Detail

County Modifies Operations in Response to COVID-19, Maintains Services

As a result of the spread of COVID-19 into the county, Franklin County Commissioners and Administration will modify operations, effective Monday, March 23, 2020.

Commissioners

March 21, 2020

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners wants to reassure residents that they, along with state and local emergency service and healthcare partners, are ready to address the health, safety and welfare needs of the community.

“Public and workforce safety is our number one priority. By limiting foot traffic to our buildings, we are minimizing exposure to COVID-19. Our goal is to flatten the curve while doing our best to provide continued services,” said Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller.

As a result of the spread of COVID-19 into the county, Franklin County Commissioners and Administration will modify operations, effective Monday, March 23, 2020. Services are still available to the public, but are adjusted to protect the health of employees and the community by limiting person-to-person contact and restricting walk-in visits. As a result, all county offices will be available by phone or email, with in-person meetings for urgent matters only. For information on court operations, please refer to this press release, issued March 20, 2020.

County Administrator Carrie Gray stated, “Franklin County is dedicated to serving the community. Our commitment to residents does not waver, even when faced with a state of emergency. Our mission is to provide services responsive to the health, safety, and general welfare needs of County residents–and we will do so–even if our methods of providing these services change.”

To help limit exposure to COVID-19, residents with county business that cannot be postponed should contact County offices by phone or email to determine the best way to proceed, which may differ by department. Contact information for offices and crisis hotlines can be found below and on www.franklincountypa.gov:

9-1-1 – if you or someone you know is in danger and needs immediate emergency assistance

2-1-1 – to find local services and get help

If you are in crisis and need immediate attention – Crisis Intervention Services: (717) 264-2555 or 1-866-918-2555

Adult Probation (717) 264- 6613

Area Agency on Aging (717) 263-2153 or (800) 642-6990

Archives (717) 261-3154 or archives@franklincountypa.gov

Children & Youth Services (717) 263-1900; if you wish to report child abuse or neglect, call PA Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 932-0313

Clerk of Courts clerkofcourts@franklincountypa.gov

Commissioners’ Office (717) 261-3812 or commissioners@franklincountypa.gov

Controller (717) 261-3822 or controllers@franklincountypa.gov

Domestic Relations (717) 264-6144 or csfranklin@PACSES.com

Drug & Alcohol (717) 263-1256 or ffda@franklincountypa.gov; PA GET HELP NOW (800) 662-4357

Emergency Services – Administrative (717) 264-2813; call 9-1-1 for immediate emergency assistance

Fiscal (717) 261-3105 or fiscal@franklincountypa.gov

Human Resources (717) 261-3150; Fax (717) 261-3156 or hr@franklincountypa.gov

Information Technology (717) 261-3149

Jail (717) 264-9513

Mental Health/Intellectual Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention (717)264-5387 or mhiddei@franklincountypa.gov

Penn State Extension (717) 263-9226 or franklin_extension@psu.edu

Planning (717) 261-3855 or planning@franklincountypa.gov

Procurement (717) 709-7229 or procurement@franklincountypa.gov

Property Management (717) 709-1551

Prothonotary (717) 261-3858

Public Defender (717) 261-3863

Risk Management (717) 261-3819, after hours (717) 372-5933; Fax (717) 264-3413 or riskmgt@franklincountypa.gov

Sheriff (717) 261-3877; Fax (717) 261-3882; Hearing impaired (717) 264-8474

Tax Services (717) 261-3801 or taxservices@franklincountypa.gov

Treasurer (717) 261-3120

Veterans Affairs (717) 263-4326; Fax (717) 236-1905

Veteran’s Crisis Line – confidential help for active duty military, veterans, and their families. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or send a text message to 838255 for confidential support 24 hours a day

Voter Registration (717) 261-3886

In early March, Franklin County adapted its current pandemic influenza plans to prepare for the spread of COVID-19 and activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in preparation of a likely first case. The EOC allows for a collaborative county response, including county-wide enhanced response coordination; communication and outreach with federal, state and local partners; and up-to-date information sharing with residents. The Commissioners also signed a Declaration of Disaster Emergency earlier this week, which enables the county to quickly mobilize resources and be reimbursed for expenses related to COVID-19.

The Commissioners thank the community for their understanding and flexibility during this challenging time–we are in this together and we will overcome this together.

Information on COVID-19 can be found at the following web pages:

http://bit.ly/Coronavirus_FranklinCountyPA

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx