Buckeye Hills Regional Council will present the draft of its Program Year 2026 Strategic Area Plan update at a public hearing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Dec. 3, at its office, 1400 Pike St., in Marietta.

Buckeye Hills Regional Council is seeking input to inform the Program Year 2026 Strategic Area Plan Update, including:

*Waiver Request for Older Americans Act Title III-D funds to support health promotion and disease prevention programs (approximately $20,000)

*The implementation of Grab-and-Go meals

*Strategic Area Plan goals and outcomes

Residents, caregivers, service providers, and community partners in Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington counties are encouraged to attend and share comments.

As the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) servicing these counties, Buckeye Hills Regional Council is charged with helping communities and individuals to plan and prepare for their long-term care needs. The Older Americans Act of 1965, which established the framework for the nation’s network of AAAs, requires each AAA to prepare a Strategic Area Plan to foster the development of a comprehensive and coordinated service system to meet the needs of older persons in its region.

The draft Program Year 2026 Strategic Area Plan may be viewed in advance of the meeting on Buckeye Hills Regional Council’s website at buckeyehills.org/aging-health under “Recent News.”

Individuals who are unable to attend may submit comments in writing to Janie Collins, Program Development Coordinator, at jcollins@buckeyehills.org or mail them to Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Attn: Janie Collins, 1400 Pike Street, Marietta, OH 45750. Comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5, 2025.