About Us

- Who We Are
- Steering Committee
- Task Force Partners

Who We Are
The Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force formed in November 2008 because of the growing number of bed bug infestations in Franklin County. It is a collaborative endeavor including representatives from local governments, health departments, social service agencies, pest control applicators, landlord and tenants rights groups, fire departments, the Ohio Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health, and the Ohio State University Extension.

The goal of the task force is to prevent bed bug infestations through education and serve as a resource to those struggling with an infestation.

No community is immune to bed bugs. Socio - economic status is not an indicator of one’s susceptibility to a bed bug infestation nor is it an indicator if someone is dirty. Anyone can experience an infestation.

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Steering Committee
The steering committee is made up of individuals with a wide range of expertise regarding bed bug infestations. To send comments to the steering commiettee, please contact us.

• Matt Beal, The Ohio Department of Agriculture
• Bethany Dohnal, Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging
• Andrew Christman, Ohio Pest Management Association,
  The Ohio Exterminating Co. Inc.
• Dr. Susan Jones, Ohio State University Extension Office
• Paul Wenning, Task Force Chairperson
• Krista McAfee, Columbus Code Enforcement
• Carol Elder, Mt. Carmel Health Systems
• John Vidosh, Furniture Bank of Central Ohio

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Task Force Partners

Bed Bug Inspector LLC

Buckeye Real Estate

Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging

City of Dublin

City of Hilliard

City of Gahanna

City of Whitehall

Columbus Apartment Association

Columbus Public Schools

Columbus Code Enforcement

Columbus Division of Fire

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority

Columbus Public Health

Columbus Urban League

CPO Management

Creative Housing, Inc.

Delaware General Health District

Dragoo and Associates Property Management

Dublin City Schools

Environmental Pest Management

Experience Columbus

Franklin County Public Health

Franklin Co. Board of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities

Franklin County Children's Services

Franklin County Office on Aging

Franklin County Senior Options

Four Paws K-9 Detection, LLC

Furniture Bank of Central Ohio

Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools

Grove City Area Visitors
and Convention Bureau

Hands On Central Ohio

House Physicians of Ohio

Huckleberry House, Inc.

Integrity Moving

Interim Health Care

Jackson Township Fire Department

Jackson Township Trustees

The Legal Aid Society of Columbus

LifeCare Alliance

Madison Township Fire Department

Maryhaven

Mount Carmel Health System – St Anne's Hospital

Mount Carmel Health System – Mount Carmel East Hospital

Mount Carmel Health System – Mount Carmel West Hospital

Ohio Dept. of Agriculture

OH Dept. of Commerce,
Division of Industrial Compliance

Ohio Department of Health

Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services

Ohio Detection Services

Ohio Exterminating Company

Ohio Health Care Association

Ohio Legal Rights Service

Ohio Pest Management Association

Ohio Poverty Law Center

Ohio State University Extension

The Ohio State University

The Ohio State University Student
Legal Clinic

OhioHealth Doctors Hospital West

OhioHealth Grant hospital

OhioHealth Riverside Hospital

Ohio Health Dublin Methodist Hospital

Orkin

Quality Pest Control

Rebuilding Together Central Ohio

Reynoldsburg City Schools

Roger C Perry Company

Rose Pest Solutions

Rx Protect

St Agatha School

South-Western City Schools

Ohio Department of Commerce, State Fire Marshal Inspection Bureau

Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio

Truro Township Fire Department.

Upper Arlington City Schools

Varment Guard

Veterans Administration

Washington Twp Fire Dept

Washington Twp Trustees

Westerville City Schools

Whitehall City Schools

Wright State University

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