Linda Porter retires after 25 years serving Harrison County

After more than two decades of public service, Linda Porter has retired from the Harrison County Department of Job and Family Services.

Porter began her career with DJFS in 2000. After her daughter graduated, she returned to college planning to take a computer class. Encouraged by her professors, she went on to earn an associate’s degree in mental health. She maintained a perfect GPA and received a one-year scholarship to Ohio University, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences in one year, concentrating in psychology and social work.

Porter began with Harrison County Children’s Services as a social worker after completing three internships with the agency. She investigated child abuse cases, worked with families to develop case plans, completed adoption assessments and handled adult protective services cases. The work often required evening, weekend and holiday on-call hours, but Porter said it was deeply meaningful.

She was promoted in 2011 to supervisor of Children’s Services. Eighteen years later, she transitioned to director of child support. In that role, she managed a statewide system, fiscal responsibilities involving local, state and federal funding, and oversaw enforcement of child support orders. Under her leadership, the Harrison County Child Support Agency handled cases across the United States and internationally.

Porter said the most rewarding moments of her career were those when she knew she had made a lasting difference. One such moment came when a former foster child returned to the agency as an adult, introduced her to his wife and told her, “This is the person who saved my life.”

“Knowing that I had helped even one child to become a responsible and loving adult was a great feeling,” Porter said.

She also recalled the difficulty of working with individuals who refused help.

“I worked with several young girls who had drug addicted babies who suffered after being born while going through withdrawal, and thus placing the mothers into a rehab facility, and having them tell me that they liked their life, they had no intention of doing anything to change,” Porter said. “I would see these young girls lose their child to adoption and become pregnant again while continuing to use drugs.”

A lifelong resident of Harrison County and Cadiz, Porter is active in the community. She serves as corresponding secretary and spay-and-neuter chairperson for the Harrison County Humane Society and has been involved in church and volunteer organizations over the years. She and her husband, Joseph Porter, have been married 51 years and have two adult children and three grandchildren.

In retirement, Porter plans to focus on family and spending time with her grandchildren. She also is considering becoming certified as an Ohio wildlife rehabilitator and possibly renewing her adoption assessor certification.

Reflecting on her career and community, Porter said the best part of living and working in Harrison County is its small-town spirit.

“It’s a place where people care about one another,” she said, adding that Harrison County always feels like home.