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Article   ·   December 31, 2025
ODHS 2025 Year in Review
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As we reflect on 2025, we are grateful for the dedication of ODHS staff, community and Tribal partners, providers, and the people we serve who worked together to support people and families across the state. This year brought moments of uncertainty and change, but it also highlighted the strength that comes from collaboration and shared purpose. In communities large and small, people stepped up to solve problems, care for one another, and find new ways to deliver services with compassion and dignity. While this summary can’t capture everything accomplished this year, we hope these highlights reflect the meaningful work made possible by working together. Thank you for being part of our mission to build well-being for everyone in Oregon!

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January 2025

Otto the Mobile Van cartoon and sample social posts

In January, we tried something new on social media by spotlighting one of our ODHS Mobile Units. The District 7 South Coast van (nicknamed Otto after the otter featured on his wrap) was given a friendly personality and a cartoon-style look. Posts about Otto's adventures and maps of where he and his ODHS friends would be each month were a hit and helped people connect with ODHS services in a more approachable way. We’re excited to build on this success with more mobile units in 2026.

ODHS in the news

On social media

January was National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. ODHS and our partners at the Oregon Department of Transportation posted on social media throughout the month to bring awareness to this serious issue and educate the public on how to prevent and report it.
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

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February 2025

The Spray General Store hosts an outdoor concert

In February, our Office of Resilience and Emergency Management announced the recipients of the Resilience Hubs and Networks grant [Spanish news release], selecting 87 organizations from more than 700 applicants. A total of $10 million supported resilience hubs and emergency equipment statewide, with an additional $2 million awarded to Oregon’s Nine Federally Recognized Tribes. A blog post featuring the Spray General Store [Spanish blog post] (pictured above) highlighted how these investments help small communities prepare for the future.

ODHS in the news

On social media

Jack Jackman, an ODHS Eligibility Manager, veteran, and cultural leader, was honored by the Portland Winterhawks as their Hometown Hero at their Pacific Islander Celebration Night. Jack took to the ice in a powerful way - performing traditional dances and leading a haka with Teva Oriata, his Polynesian dance troupe.
Jack Jackman wears traditional Pacific Islander dance clothing and performs at a Winterhawks game

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March 2025

The flexibility you need - Work that makes a difference

In March, ODHS partnered with the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Home Care Commission to fully launch a statewide recruitment campaign for in-home care professionals who serve people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities, as well as older adults. The campaign reached audiences through traditional media, social media, billboards, a new interactive website with a quiz, and more. Strong early results led to a refreshed version in October, featuring real workers and clients and a continued focus on sustaining momentum.

ODHS in the news

On social media

As federal changes began to impact Oregon's immigrant and refugee communities, especially Spanish speaking communities, we began posting messages on our Spanish Facebook page to help inform and support the people we serve. The first video emphasized that ODHS would remain committed to serving our communities with respect, dignity and equity. Future postings included text, image, video and Live events.
Marlen Torres speaks in front of the Oregon State Capitol building

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April 2025

OREM staff members work to help support people affected by flooding

ODHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM) staff spent much of April supporting recovery efforts in Douglas and Harney counties and partnering with the Burns Paiute Tribe following devastating flooding that began in March. ODHS helped meet urgent needs by providing sanitation resources, clean water, and logistical support, including delivery of a 3,500-gallon water tank to Harney District Hospital. We also offered extensions for SNAP benefit replacement [Spanish news release] requests to help people recover from food losses caused by the disaster in certain counties and an even longer extension [Spanish news release] for those who lived in Harney County.

ODHS in the news

On social media

The ODHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services, the Oregon Self-Advocacy Coalition, and self-advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities worked together to create “The Self-Advocate Guide to Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Services.” The guide, which comes in nine languages, aims to help people with I/DD walk through the service planning process so that they can be empowered to meet their individual goals. We also created a new self-advocacy webpage on the ODHS website.
ODDS Self-Advocacy Guide

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May 2025

Care for your community. Start an Adult Foster Home business.

In May, we launched a social media campaign to recruit adult foster home providers across Oregon. Adult foster homes offer round-the-clock care in a home-like setting that emphasizes independence, choice, and dignity. As the campaign progressed, we focused outreach on 14 counties with the greatest need, partnered with the Oregon Health Authority, and created a new adult foster home webpage to support prospective providers.

ODHS in the news

On social media

May was Foster Care Month. In addition to a news release announcing the month, we made social media posts about all of the events our local offices held for resource families and kids in ODHS care in their areas. Events included everything from bounce houses, to playtime with farm animals, to a family picnic, to a wildlife safari, to a BBQ and ice cream social, to a trip to the Oregon Zoo, and more. This month was all about recognizing the awesome families and community organizations we partner with who work to provide love and stability for children in need.
Spiderman and Bat Woman greet a child in foster care outdoors

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June 2025

Respect Campaign portrait images

June centered on raising awareness about and preventing older adult abuse. Through events [Spanish news release] held across the state for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day [Spanish news release], we worked to educate and engage communities so that people would know what to do if they are being harmed or suspect someone they know could be at risk. We also launched the Respect Campaign (informed by extensive community engagement, a statewide survey, and national data) to address abuse and rights violations experienced by LGBTQIA2S+ older adults and people living with HIV in long-term care settings.

ODHS in the news

On social media

On June 20, 2025, Governor Tina Kotek signed Senate Bill 810 into law. It made Oregon’s Employment First policy, which we first adopted in 2008, official. Starting in October 2025, it became law that state agencies must focus on helping people with I/DD find competitive jobs that earn fair wages alongside coworkers without disabilities.
Celebrating Employment First in Oregon

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July 2025

ODHS new brand with bauhaus band

July was a time of transition. We unveiled a refreshed visual identity [Spanish blog post], including an updated logo, new colors, and a more modern, people-centered look. It's intentionally simple, warm, and welcoming, meant to evoke feelings of being seen, supported, and hopeful. It tells a story of growing stronger together, no matter where we come from or how we serve.

In addition, Director Fariborz Pakseresht [Spanish blog post] announced in July that he would retire on October 1 after 35 years of state service. Governor Tina Kotek appointed Deputy Director Liesl Wendt to serve as Interim Director upon his retirement. Liesl was then confirmed as the permanent Director of ODHS [Spanish blog post] by the Oregon State Senate on Nov. 19.

ODHS in the news

On social media

Each July, we celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This year's webinar series [Spanish news release] (hosted in partnership with the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability Rights Oregon, and the Northwest ADA Center) featured special guest speakers Hannah and Shane Burcaw - married YouTube creators who talk about inter-abled relationships on their channel Squirmy and Grubs.
Ad for Hannah and Shane Burcaw - Squirmy and Grubs - and their ADA session

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August 2025

ODHS employees help children at a booth for Summer EBT

Throughout August and earlier in the summer, ODHS staff connected with families at community events to promote Summer EBT - a grocery benefits program that helps families buy food for their school-aged children when school is out. In partnership with the Oregon Department of Education, we made a focused push [Spanish news release] to help families understand eligibility before the September deadline. As a result, 360,926 children received grocery benefits, providing over $43.3 million in food support statewide. Summer EBT will return in 2026!

ODHS in the news

On social media

In 2024, the Oregon State Legislature allocated funding to increase the maximum assistance people could receive through Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS) for the first time since 1997. The increased funding was extended in 2025 - meaning that survivors can currently get up to $3,200 (instead of up to $1,200) for moving costs and items that can help them and their families get and stay safe from domestic violence.
Up to $3,200 to help with moving costs and items to help your family get and stay safe from domestic violence.

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September 2025

Nate Singer and Oregon EligiBot APHSA award

The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA)'s IT Solutions Management for Human Services conference was held in September 2025 - and Oregon really stood out! Oregon Eligibility Partnership Director Nate Singer received the Jerry W. Friedman Excellence in Leadership Award. This award honors leaders who have made a lasting impact in the human services sector of government and who design systems that prioritize the human aspect of service delivery. Additionally, our Oregon GenAI EligiBot received the Best Use of Technology for Operations Award. EligiBot, launched in June 2025, is an AI-powered assistant that helps eligibility staff quickly find resources, tools, and answers so they can better serve people in Oregon.

ODHS in the news

On social media

Each year on Sept. 30, ODHS employees wear orange and encourage others to do so, too. Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is a day to join in solidarity with First Nations, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians affected by residential Indian boarding schools. This day reminds us to support survivors and stand against all forms of racism.
Orange Shirt Day

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October 2025

Alayna, a Medford High School student, works at Imani as part of VR

October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce and recognize businesses that support employees with disabilities. ODHS marked the month with webinars [Spanish news release], social media content, and two blog posts highlighting employment success stories. These included students pursuing cosmetology careers with support from ODHS Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and an ODHS Communications Officer whose own VR journey came full circle.

ODHS in the news

On social media

Our ODHS Washington County team held a "Winter Warm Up" event in partnership with the Beaverton Resource Center. Local residents were able to come get free, gently used coats, hats, scarves, socks, blankets, heaters and more to help get their families winter ready. We were able to provide 248 coats to over 50 different families!
ODHS staff pose together in front of coats set up for the event

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November 2025

An ODHS employee poses with all the food donations he personally gathered to help people in need during the shutdown

During the federal government shutdown, delays in November SNAP benefits created uncertainty and added strain for hundreds of thousands of people in Oregon and local food systems. In response, Governor Tina Kotek asked ODHS to coordinate a statewide food emergency response and direct emergency funding to food banks and Tribal partners. We also made it a priority to share clear, timely information with the public, hosted a series of short Spanish videos with weekly updates, and refreshed our Need Food? web and social media campaign. ODHS staff across Oregon stepped up - going above and beyond their normal job duties by stocking food pantries, packing food boxes, and supporting community partners. Additionally, when the opportunity arose, Governor Kotek and ODHS acted quickly to get November benefits out as quickly as possible - becoming one of the first states in the country to do so before legal challenges paused them again.

ODHS in the news

On social media

In celebration of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, we posted a video about Amanda Freeman’s employment journey. For Amanda, photography isn’t just art. It’s a way to honor her people and their story. With help from ODHS Vocational Rehabilitation, Amanda built a career that reflects her creativity, resilience, and connection to her Indigenous heritage.
a still from Amanda Freeman's video

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December 2025

ODHS employee Todd Wels plays Santa at an event for kids in foster care

The holiday season is always big for ODHS employees. Many of our staff take time to give back to their communities and spread joy to the people we serve. For example:

  • The ODHS Mi Gente Employee Resource Group (ERG) volunteered at the Salvation Army Thanksgiving dinner in Gresham - serving meals to more than 100 people and providing winter coats to every family that came by.
  • In Multnomah County, ODHS Child Welfare Teen/Permanency Supervisor Kelly Paluso organized gift cards for teens in foster care.
  • ODHS staff in Josephine County hosted a holiday party for families who have visitation through ODHS Child Welfare. ODHS Resource Home Certifier Todd Wels (pictured above) grew out and colored his beard over several months to step into the role of Santa.
  • In Clackamas County, staff hosted a gift pick-up event that helped ensure resource (foster) families received community donated gifts for the children and young adults in their homes just in time for the holidays. They also later held a family holiday party that over 60 families attended.
  • At the Washington County family holiday party, Oregon State Senator Janeen Sollman joined us to read How the Grinch Stole Christmas. About 134 families attended.

ODHS in the news

On social media

Jessica Ventura, Director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, appeared on Sometimes a Great Podcast - an ODHS story recap show hosted by our own Dr. Bethany Grace Howe. Jessica came to the U.S. at age five and grew up undocumented in North Portland - an experience that continues to shape her leadership today. She shared what “survival mode” taught her, why naming fear can help people feel less alone, and how planning, listening, and long-term vision guide our work with immigrant and refugee communities.
Sometimes a Great Podcast - Jessica Ventura
Contacts

Media contacts
Lindsey Kort
Oregon Department of Human Services
503-586-6029
https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/
Categories
Social Services   ·   Children & Family   ·   Disabilities   ·   Holiday   ·   Safety
Tags
aging-and-people-with-disabilities   ·   child-welfare   ·   developmental-disabilities-services   ·   oregon-eligibility-partnership   ·   self-sufficiency-programs   ·   vocational-rehabilitation



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