Harold Walker Received the 2004 William A. Jenkins Award

The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. each year selects a person to receive the agency’s highest award, The William A. Jenkins Award. This award is in memory of a Gallia County Citizen, William A. Jenkins, who during his lifetime was a pioneer who, in the 1970’s, helped the Area Agency establish the agency’s ten-county aging network.

This 2004 William A Jenkins Award was present to Harold Walker, of Highland County, who has for the past 11 years served of the Area Agency on Aging Board of Trustees, and two years as president of the Board of Trustees. Before serving the Area Agency on Aging District 7 Board of Trustees, he served on the Highland County Senior Center board. Harold has worked diligently for the betterment of the aging network and advocated for programs to serve the older adult.

Harold Walker serves as an ex-officio member of every Area Agency board committee. This spring he has been working with the Area Agency’s joint board and advisory council legislative advocacy committee. In addition to the regular advocacy work of this joint committee, he has made many trips to the Ohio Statehouse and the Riffe Center to meet with District 7 state representative and state senators about how the state budget problems affects senior services.

With his leadership qualities the aging network in District 7, which consist of the following counties: Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton, have grown tremendously.

The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. administers programs for older adults funded by the state and federal governments. Federal funds managed by the Administration on Aging and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as well as all state funds, are received through the Ohio Department of Aging. The Area Agency contracts with agencies and organizations and then channels funds through this network of services providers. These service providers include senior centers, community action agencies, home health agencies, health departments, etc.

The Area Agency also pursues various other grant opportunities to provide special programs for older adults and those involved with services to other at-risk populations, regardless of age.

Services provided on a Non-Discriminatory Basis.