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Date: August 21, 2025
Contact: ODHS Communications, Communications.odhs@odhs.oregon.gov
 Dear ODHS friends and colleagues,
The time has come to begin planning for a leadership transition at the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).
After 35 years of service to the people of Oregon—including four state agencies, three governors, the legislature, the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon, and our dedicated public employees, I plan to retire on October 1 and step away from the role I’ve held for the past eight years to make space for a new Director to build on the many accomplishments we’ve achieved together. I am pleased to share that the Governor is appointing Liesl Wendt as the next director of ODHS, pending Senate confirmation in September.
Liesl has served as deputy director for the past seven years and has made a profound impact on ODHS, from leading expansion of our emergency response capabilities through the formation of OREM to being a strong champion of equity initiatives. Liesl’s vision for the future and steady leadership is exactly what ODHS needs as it navigates changes and uncertainty.
I look forward to working closely with Liesl in the coming weeks to support a smooth and thoughtful transition.
On August 12, ODHS hosted a virtual community partner meeting to share updates on the past Oregon legislative session and hear directly from partners about emerging needs. The conversation highlighted questions about program implementation, federal changes and funding. We are grateful for the thoughtful input and continued partnership that help guide our efforts to better serve individuals and families.
The presentation slides and video are now available online and we are diligently working through questions and answers, which will be shared on the community partner meeting page.
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) warmly invite you to attend an hour-long webinar that will provide an opportunity to connect with us and receive updates about federal changes impacting Oregon.
Details:
- Tues., September 30, 2025
- Virtual via Zoom
- 10 to 11 a.m. (Pacific Time)
Registration link for the September session:
What to expect:
- All participant microphones will be muted.
- There will be an option to submit written questions.
- This webinar will not be recorded.
- Materials shared during the webinar will be e-mailed to all registrants. You can also find information on the ODHS web page and the OHA web page. Questions? Email feedback@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
- Spanish language and ASL Interpretation along with Real-time captioning (CART) will be available.
This meeting will be virtual-only. This meeting will screen share and use PowerPoint slides.
Please contact Fabiola Herrera at mayra.f.herrera-hernandez@oha.oregon.gov or 503-979-6984 (voice or text), at least 48 hours before the start of the webinar to request an accommodation.
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As summer begins to wind down, families have a limited window to secure essential food assistance through the Summer EBT program. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. With the application deadline quickly approaching on Sept. 3, 2025, it's crucial for eligible families to act now.
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The Oregon Department of Human Services’ (ODHS) seeks public comment on proposed changes to two Medicaid-funded services.
These amendments will allow ODHS to implement an Agency with Choice service option for in-home consumers and will update the Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) rate methodology for Adult Foster Homes and Residential Care Facilities. These amendments are proposed with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.
More information, including the public notice, amendment summary and available drafts of the proposed amendments, are posted on the APD website.
Deadline: To be considered, feedback must be received by Sept. 1, 2025.
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The ODHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, and the American Red Cross invite you to join them for a free virtual event in Spanish to learn more about what you can do before, during, and after emergencies, and the resources available to prepare and recover.
When: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at 12 p.m. (noon)
Where: Virtual event on the ODHS Spanish Facebook page
No registration needed — just visit the page on the date and time of the event. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Each month the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) hosts a Community Conversation. ODDS invites members of the intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community to come and share their feedback. This month’s session will be about dual diagnosis. Allison Stark from Albertina Kerr and Jessica Stout from the Oregon Health Authority will be special guests. They will talk about the support needs of people experiences both I/DD and mental health challenges
Time: noon to 1 p.m.
Date: Sept. 3, 2025
Join via Zoom
We will provide Spanish interpretation, Closed Captioning and American Sign Language.
Use this form to request other accommodations and to submit any questions or feedback before the meeting.
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The Oregon Department of Human Services Midtown Child Welfare office is going back to its roots. The 90-person staff and district administration returned to the building where this Portland office first started 31 years ago – 815 N.E. Davis Street in the Lloyd District or Midtown area. The newly remodeled building opened to the public Monday, August 4. |
The WOWtruck is a really fun portable gym that travels throughout Douglas County. It unfolds into a bike track, climbing wall, mini golf spread, ping pong tables, bowling alley, an obstacle course, a learning kitchen and more. Recently the WOWtruck set up at Oregon Department of Human Services offices in Roseburg.
“We bring the WOWtruck to our offices because it helps us make connections with our community. We do It to establish ourselves as a community organization and to create a strong bond with our community,” Jessica Hunter, ODHS Child Welfare Program Manager for Douglas County, said.
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