Oregon Dept. of Human Services

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News Release

Missing Child Alert – Tyler Shoop Is Missing And Is Believed To Be In Danger (Photo) -05/22/25

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Tyler Shoop, age 15, a child in foster care who went missing from Oregon Health and Science University Hospital in Portland, Ore on May 21, 2025. Tyler Shoop (he/him) is believed to be in danger.

ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Tyler Shoop and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see Tyler Shoop.

Tyler Shoop is suspected to be in Molalla, Oregon area.

Name: Tyler Shoop
Pronouns: he/him
Date of birth: March 3, 2010
Height: 5-feet-9 inches
Weight: 148 pounds
Hair: Blonde
Eye color: Blue Eyes
Other identifying information: Tyler has significant medical condition that requires hospitalization.  Tyler is also an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
Portland Police Bureau # 25-680264
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children # 2051678

Sometimes when a child is missing they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

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ODHS Announces Child Welfare Leadership Updates (Photo) -05/20/25

(Salem, OR) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) announced that Child Welfare Director Aprille Flint-Gerner accepted a position with Casey Family Programs as Senior Director of Strategic Consulting. The new role will allow her to continue the work of improving the well-being of children and families, but at a national level, while also giving her more flexibility to take care of family needs. Flint-Gerner’s last day at ODHS will be June 20.

During her tenure, Flint-Gerner expanded the Child Welfare leadership team to better support investments in data-driven improvements, safety practice and workforce development.

“I am grateful for Aprille’s strong leadership over the past two years as Child Welfare Director. In her new role, I know she will continue to lead needed changes in child welfare that will positively affect children and families nationwide,” said ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht. 

Rolanda Garcia, a leader with nearly three decades of experience within ODHS, will serve as interim Child Welfare director. Garcia has held a variety of leadership roles in both Child Welfare  and ODHS’s Self-Sufficiency Programs, focusing on improving the experience of people served by the agency. She is known for building strong community partnerships to better serve Oregonians and data-driven decision-making.

“Rolanda brings a deep knowledge of Child Welfare and Self-Sufficiency Programs, as well as a strong commitment to advancing Child Welfare’s priorities of keeping children safe within their homes and communities. I am confident her strong management and business operations background will benefit Child Welfare,” Director Fariborz Pakseresht said.

Flint-Gerner, who joined ODHS Child Welfare as Deputy Director of Equity, Training and Workforce Development in 2020, served as director for the past two years. Flint-Gerner championed a wide-reaching child safety initiative this year and oversaw the successful rollout of a program designed to better support families and prevent a possible Child Welfare intervention. Child safety and family support programs have contributed to a decline in the number of children in Oregon’s foster care system, from a high of 7,908 in 2018, to 4,481 at the close of 2024.

“We have a strong foundation in Child Welfare thanks to Aprille’s leadership and the team she built around her,” Pakseresht said. “Rolanda’s combination of broad and deep experience will enable her to build upon the progress underway to improve the lives of children and families in Oregon.”

About the Oregon Department of Human Services
The mission of ODHS is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve well-being and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.

Missing Child Alert – Darryn “Codia” Vargas Is Missing And Is Believed To Be In Danger (Photo) -05/16/25

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Darryn “Codia” Vargas, age 16, a child in foster care who went missing from Eugene on May 6. Codia is believed to be in danger.

ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Codia and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her.

Codia is suspected to be in the Portland area.

Name: Darryn “Codia” Vargas
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Sept. 26, 2008
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 120 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information: Codia has a septum piercing and often wears a chain necklace and a red velvet, long sleeved, button up shirt.
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Case #25-07270
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2035940

Sometimes when a child is missing they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

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Attached Media Files: Vargas.jpg,

Haven’t Filed Your Taxes? Now Is Still An Excellent Time To File (Photo) -05/15/25

Salem, Ore. -- If you missed the April 15 tax filing deadline you can still file your taxes. There is no penalty for filing if you are due refund money. In fact, now is an excellent time to get free tax filing help because, now that the big rush is over, there are many open appointments.  

Thanks to the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Tax Infrastructure Grant Program free tax filing help is available through mid-October. The program funds community organizations throughout the state to offer free tax filing help for people who qualify. See below to pick the best location for free tax help.

Some taxpayers choose not to file a return because they don't earn enough to be required to file. But if you don’t file, you may miss out on receiving money back due to potential refundable tax credits. Examples include the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Oregon Kids Credit.

Help is also available to anyone who may have received a letter from the Department of Revenue or the Internal Revenue Service about their tax filing. Letters asking to validate the taxpayer or a child’s ID are common and can be confusing. Taxpayers may also receive letters about a change to their return or an amount owed. Free tax filing organizations can help with the appropriate response to these letters, including translating them if necessary.

The ODHS Tax Infrastructure Grant Program funds culturally relevant or culturally specific organizations, Tribal governments and rural community organizations to help educate and provide free tax filing help for people with low incomes. Help is available in multiple languages. The grant money is also used to increase the number of certified tax preparers in Oregon.

Where to get free help filing taxes

  • 211Info: Call 2-1-1 or email help@211info.org for a list of all the free tax filing help.

541-382-4366; Bend, Redmond               

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Rethinking Aging During Older Americans Month -05/14/25

(Salem, OR) – Older Americans Month is celebrated every May and is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of older Americans and reaffirm commitments to meeting the needs of older adults in our communities. The 2025 Older Americans Month theme is Flip the Script on Aging, which focuses on shifting common perceptions of aging and explores ways people stay active and engaged in their communities as they age. 

“We must challenge the outdated narratives that can limit older adults' potential, recognize the many contributions being made by older adults, and support opportunities for people to thrive in their communities in ways that are meaningful to them,” said Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) within the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).

As Gov. Tina Kotek’s proclamation of Older Americans Month highlights, “Older Oregonians continue to be active, engaged, and influential members of our community, participating in volunteer activities, mentoring, and contributing to the workforce.” The proclamation also notes that Oregon is home to more than 1.5 million people over the age of 50, and people over age 65 make up more than 19 percent of the state's population. Estimates indicate that by 2034 there will be more people 65 and over than under 18. ODHS is looking ahead to ensure this growing population has and continues to have equitable access to programs that support and promote independence, health and safety, food security, employment, and connection through several initiatives. Recent accomplishments include:

  • Implementation of several projects to provide free technology to help reduce social isolation and loneliness. Eligible older adults and people with disabilities have been offered opportunities to receive free laptops, GrandPads, iPads and tablets to foster social connection such as video calls with friends, online cooking and exercise classes and listening to music. To date, hundreds of older adults and adults with disabilities have accessed and benefitted from these programs.
     
  • Recruitment efforts to help grow the in-home care provider workforce, hire more case managers and encourage people to become licensed adult foster home providers. These valuable in-home and community-based service roles help older adults and people with disabilities maintain independence and navigate resources available to them.
     
  • Regular meetings with the LGBTQIA2S+ Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services to improve support of older adults who are part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. This committee was formed as a result of Senate Bill 99 (2023).
     
  • Implementation of Oregon Project Independence - Medicaid (OPI-M) as an addition to the state’s traditional OPI program to give more options for support so people can remain in their own homes. OPI-M uses Medicaid funds to pay for services, expanding access to more Oregonians. It also offers more service hours than some other in-home care options and there is no estate recovery requirement for people in this program. OPI-M has successfully approved more than 1,000 individuals since its launch, addressing the needs of many Oregonians who were previously on a waitlist for services or lacked other care options.
     
  • Continued support for home-delivered meals and congregate meal sites throughout Oregon to provide opportunities for older adults to connect with others in their community. In 2024, the federally funded Senior Nutrition Program supplied healthy home-delivered and congregate setting meals for more than 23,000 people aged 60 and older. To find a meal site, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or visit https://adrcoforegon.org.
     
  • Increasing outreach on Adult Protective Services ensuring older adults and their family and friends know about elder abuse and how to report potential abuse.

Resources:

People who need help with long-term care needs, food programs or other supports can contact their local APD office or office serving older adults and people with disabilities. A list of office locations and contact information is available on the ODHS office finder web page

Free help and resource information is also available through the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) of Oregon. Call 1-855-673-2372 or visit the ADRC website at https://adrcoforegon.org.

About the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities:

APD’s vision is to ensure Oregon’s older adults, people with disabilities and their families experience person-centered services, supports and early interventions that are innovative and help maintain independence, promote safety, wellbeing, honor choice, respect cultural preferences, and uphold dignity.

Foster Care Month Celebrates Relative Caregivers, Respite Providers And Resource Parents As A Vital Support For Children And Families -05/06/25

(Salem, OR) – This May, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) honors the essential role of resource families and respite providers in creating safe and nurturing environments for children and young adults. In Oregon, adults who care for children experiencing foster care are called resource parents, emphasizing the many important roles they play in supporting children and helping maintain relationships with their biological families and communities.

As Governor Tina Kotek’s proclamation in honor of National Foster Care month states, “Dedicated resource families and relative caregivers work tirelessly to provide children a secure and nurturing environment and give young people in foster care the love, warmth, safety, care and support they need.”

Supportive relationships are particularly important for young people who have experienced trauma and can change the trajectory of a life. According to Harvard’s Center for the Developing Child, supportive and responsive relationships help children develop resilience in the face of adversity.

Resource parents and respite providers play an ongoing supportive role in the life of a child and biological parents both during and after time in foster care. Becoming a resource parent is not the only way to support children and families. ODHS now has a certified respite program, offering a more flexible way to contribute to a child's life while giving resource parents a chance to take a break and recharge. ODHS partners with Every Child to help recruit resource parents, volunteers and respite care providers, and offers a peer mentorship program connecting new resource parents to experienced ones.

According to ODHS, respite providers often find the experience of supporting young people in care enriching and decide to become resource parents. There are 138 active certified respite providers across the state, with 205 providers certified since the launch in 2023. “We hope this program continues to grow to give biological, relative and resource caregivers a break for self-care. But more importantly, this is an opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life, whether as a respite provider or resource parent. Just a few hours a week of quality time with a young person can make a huge difference,” Child Welfare Director Aprille Flint-Gerner said.

There are many ways to support children and young people experiencing foster care and uplift families involved with Child Welfare. Visit our website, Foster.Oregon.Gov, to learn more, or call 1-800-331-0503 to get involved.

Resources and Volunteer Opportunities

About the ODHS Child Welfare Program

The Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare Program is committed to transforming itself to better support the individual needs of families and to best serve Oregon’s children and young people.

Oregon Department Of Human Services Raises Awareness About Nursing Careers In The Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities Sector -05/06/25

Salem, OR — This is National Nurses Week. This year’s theme is the power of nurses. The Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) recognizes the powerful and essential role nurses play in the lives of those they serve in Oregon’s intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) system. The nation is experiencing a shortage of nurses. To help address this shortage in Oregon’s I/DD sector, ODDS launched a campaign to raise awareness about nursing careers in Oregon’s I/DD system in December 2024.

ODDS used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to contract with Applichat Limited, a recruitment marketing agency, to lead the campaign. Applichat’s research revealed that while disability nursing has many benefits — more flexible schedules, the ability to form strong patient relationships and opportunities for meaningful impact — most nurses don’t know that serving the I/DD community is an option. They are unaware of career opportunities in the disability sector due to gaps in curriculum and public awareness.

“From speaking to nurses, families and healthcare professionals as part of our research, we’ve seen the impact of the disability nursing shortage,” said Adam Chambers, President of Applichat.

Nurses transform the lives of people like Casey Potter. Born with cerebral palsy due to a spinal infarction at birth caused by bacterial meningitis, Casey and his family struggled to find nurses who could provide care at home. But once they found the right support, the impact was profound — not just for Casey, but for his entire family. His mother, Monique Potter, said, “He’s grown so much into his own independence. Now I can just be his mom, not his caregiver.”

ODDS Children’s Services Manager Lisa Tyler said of the campaign’s significance: “For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, nurses are a lifeline to greater independence and personal safety. This campaign is crucial in helping individuals like Casey and his family experience a better quality of life. Many nurses would find this work deeply rewarding.”

To help nurses learn more about careers in the I/DD community, please refer them to the ODDS Nursing Services web page: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/providers-partners/idd/pages/nursing-services.aspx. The page includes information about the three types of nursing positions in the I/DD sector: private duty nursing, direct nursing and long-term care community nursing. It also includes resources for interested nurses, such as a career paths guide for I/DD nursing in Oregon.

To learn more about job openings in the I/DD sector and to apply, go to ImpactOregon.careers.

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity. The Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) strives to support the choices of individuals with disabilities and their families within communities by promoting and providing services that are person-centered and directed, flexible, community-inclusive, and supportive of the discovery and development of each individual’s unique gifts, talents and abilities. We’re committed to working toward service options to ensure that people with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to have lives that are fulfilling and meaningful.

You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille or a format you prefer. Contact ODHS at 503-945-5811 or odhs.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov. We accept calls from all forms of relay service for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, blind or have low vision. For more information about relay service providers visit https://www.oregonrelay.com or https://www.fcc.gov/general/internet-based-trs-providers.

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ODHS Announces New Online Training On Recognizing And Reporting Child Abuse -04/28/25

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has launched its first-ever interactive online training for the public about reporting suspected child abuse. The training rollout coincides with Child Abuse Awareness Month and the announcement of a new safety initiative underway in Child Welfare.

Safety priorities in the initiative include improving safety for children in foster care and children who come to the attention of Child Welfare, in addition to providing training to the public and professionals known as mandatory reporters. Mandatory reporters are required by law to report suspected child abuse, and include professionals in healthcare, law enforcement, social work and education fields, among others.

The new online training helps reporters recognize types of child abuse, how to report, and understand when a family needs material or economic assistance. Across the country and in Oregon, efforts to better distinguish between child abuse and neglect and family needs related to poverty are driving family support programs, sometimes called family preservation or prevention.

“We all contribute to child safety not only by being mandatory reporters, but by being mandatory supporters,” said Aprille Flint-Gerner, ODHS Child Welfare Division director. “This training provides the public with the tools needed to recognize signs of abuse that must be reported, as well as understanding when a family needs a community resource or support, rather than a report to the hotline.”

The interactive training takes about an hour to complete and is considered the official Oregon Health Authority and ODHS state course with the most up-to-date guidance on child abuse and effective reporting. Prior to the new training, ODHS used a shorter explanatory video about reporting child abuse.       

  

The course, Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse in Oregon, teaches:

  • How to recognize signs of child abuse and understand the definitions.
  • The role and impact of personal biases when determining whether a report is required.
  • How to make a report and what information to provide to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline.
  • What happens after a report is made.
  • How to connect a family with resources.

The training also aims to prevent unnecessary abuse reports. The Oregon Child Abuse Hotline (ORCAH) receives a high number of calls that are neither reports of child abuse nor require Child Welfare intervention. In 2024, ORCAH, received 176,393 contacts, resulting in 96,246 documented screening reports. Of the documented reports, 46,483, or 27% resulted in Child Protective Services completing an assessment. ORCAH data shows that 80% of reports are from mandatory reporters, largely from representatives of law enforcement, education and the medical field.

Data in Oregon and nationally show that Black and/or African American and American Indian/Alaska Native families are disproportionately reported to child welfare. The training addresses how reporters can recognize their personal biases, including how they view a child or family in need.

“We hope the training will help reduce disproportionality in reporting and get families connected to the services they need to thrive,” Flint-Gerner said. “Child safety is about early intervention in communities whenever possible, so that children who are unsafe get help quickly, and families who need resources get connected to supports. Prevention and early intervention are where the public and mandatory reporters can really make a difference.”


The new training is available on the Reporting Child Abuse web page in partnership with Oregon State University’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE).


 

Resources

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

The mission of ODHS is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve well-being and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.

Child Welfare Highlights Strategies To Lead Child Safety Reform In Oregon -04/23/25

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare Director is sharing details of a broad effort underway to improve safety for children in foster care and children who come to the attention of Child Welfare through a call to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline.

“The safety of children is our highest priority, and while the Child Welfare system has significantly improved in recent years, we know there is more work to do to ensure children are safe, both in our care and in the community,” said ODHS Child Welfare Director, Aprille Flint-Gerner.

Improvement plans are focused on the following goals:

  • Workforce development: Child Welfare needs a strong, supported workforce with access to resources, tools and knowledge to keep children safe. Initiatives in this area include enhanced training, changes to assessment policy and procedure, and technology improvements to help caseworkers work more efficiently.
     
  • Public engagement and trust: To keep children safe, the community needs to understand how to build safety around families and how to report concerns to the Child Abuse Hotline. A new mandatory reporter training for the public, a companion “mandatory supporter training,” and more easily accessible information online about child safety and progress will help meet this goal.
     
  • Vulnerable populations. Oregon faces multifaceted challenges around supporting families and children with complex needs. Child Welfare has safety initiatives around children who have been trafficked, children with disabilities, and children who need substance abuse treatment.

More details on these efforts can be found at this link.

Child Welfare is partnering with national experts to inform strategies and measure success of these ongoing efforts. Human Services Group (HSG) will partner with Child Welfare to conduct a review during the next 90-120 days to evaluate current safety-related practices, make recommendations that build on current practices and resources that help to safeguard vulnerable children in Oregon. The agency is also working with the neutral expert hired through in the collaborative agreement from the class action-lawsuit settled last year to conduct an initial review of the Oregon child welfare system and working with the department to develop outcome measures.

“Safety is core to the mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services, and our staff work hard each day to protect the most vulnerable populations, including children, older adults and people with disabilities,” said Fariborz Pakseresht, ODHS Director. “We are committed to continuously evaluating our work, to ensure we are doing all we can to support safety in all settings and communities.”

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

The mission of ODHS is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity. 

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