Ohio Department of Administrative Services

As Ohioans prepare to come together this weekend for Memorial Day picnics and gatherings, the Ohio Department of Commerce reminds you to keep fire safety top of mind, whether you’re planning to fire up the grill, enjoy s’mores around a bonfire, or spend time in an Ohio park or campsite. Warm weather means more cookouts, and while grilling is a beloved tradition, it’s also a leading cause of outdoor fire accidents. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that gas grills are involved in more than 9,200 home fires each year, underscoring the importance of simple, preventative fire safety steps. Specifically in Ohio, there were 119 grill fire-related incidents in 2025. For more safety click: https://lnkd.in/gjtES25R

The Team Tressel Fitness Challenge will return for the fall 2026 school year and Lt. Governor Tressel is encouraging schools with students in grades 3–8 to sign up now for the challenge, which kicks off August 31. You probably know someone connected to a school — whether it's your child's teacher, a principal, a coach, a neighbor, a friend, or a family member. A quick conversation, email, or text from you could help introduce a school to the challenge. You can sign up for Team Tressel at: https://lnkd.in/gCJJsrBH

Director Madden will host Ohio Department of Aging, Director Ursel J. McElroy on Wednesday, May 27 at noon in the Rhodes Tower Lobby Hearing Room for the event recognizing Older Americans Month and Older Ohioans Month, which focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. Please feel free to join us or you can also watch on the Ohio channel: https://lnkd.in/gPjTEXij department-of-administrative-services

The Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Grape Industries Committee gathered to launch a month-long celebration of Ohio wine and recognize some of the state’s top wines ahead of Ohio Wine Month in June. The event featured Ohio Quality Wines as well as Double Gold Medal winners from the 2025 Ohio Wine Competition, bringing together winery owners, grape growers, industry partners, and state leaders to celebrate the people and businesses behind Ohio wine. The winning wines will be featured at the 2026 Ohio State Fair, July 29 through Aug. 9. https://lnkd.in/gD_y9-G2

DAS Offices are closed today in observance of #MemorialDay. Today we honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.  

Why work for the State of Ohio? The state provides numerous quality benefits for both part-time and full-time employees. Check out the open positions today and apply online at careers.ohio.gov https://lnkd.in/e52Em35r

Recently, Governor Mike DeWine and Kentucky Governor Any Beshear joined other state, local and federal officials to celebrate the official launch of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project. This phase of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project will build a new state-of-the-art cable-stayed companion bridge to the existing Brent Spence Bridge, which crosses the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Covington, Kentucky, and is considered among the worst trucking bottlenecks in the United States. https://lnkd.in/gk7AkQtd

In 2025, there were more than 2,800 cases of Lyme disease in Ohio. That’s why Ohioans need to be cautious with the warmer months upon us, said Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. “While the warmer weather provides great opportunities to get outdoors, it also means we are entering prime tick season,” said Dr. Vanderhoff. “Anyone who enjoys the outdoors is at risk for a tick bite, but especially hikers, hunters, campers and others who spend time in wooded, brushy, or grassy areas.” For more information visit: https://lnkd.in/gMfta44w

If you need to talk, the 988 Lifeline is here. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Governor Mike DeWine and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams announced Ohio will join ACF’s 'A Home for Every Child' initiative to improve outcomes for children in foster care. According to ACF, for every 100 children entering foster care, only 57 licensed foster homes are available nationwide. ACF’s 'A Home for Every Child' initiative aims to create a better ratio of foster homes to the number of children in the foster care system. The initiative focuses on improving the foster care system for both children and caregivers by creating a faster, more efficient pathway to permanency while also ensuring there is a safe foster home for every child.  For more information about 'A Home for Every Child,' visit: https://lnkd.in/gmecpfWk