You may be hearing questions about Medicaid data sharing and immigration enforcement. In late November, CMS announced a federal policy that could allow limited Medicaid and Marketplace data sharing with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Oregon is actively challenging that policy in court, and a judge has ordered CMS not to share this data while the case continues. That court order has now been extended through January 5, 2026, meaning CMS is not legally allowed to share Medicaid or Marketplace information with immigration enforcement during this time. The Oregon Health Authority has shared updated guidance and resources to help staff respond clearly and reassure people, and this guidance applies within ODHS as well. Oregon remains committed to protecting privacy and access to care, recognizing that health care is a basic human need, not a tool for enforcement. Thank you for continuing to support people with care, respect, and compassion during a stressful and uncertain time.
Season 1, Episode 33: Dec. 15, 2025
28 min, 12 sec.
What’s inside The Big Picture
This week, The Big Picture heads to the Barbara Roberts Building in Salem for a conversation with Acting Deputy Director Dana Hittle — the “Medicaid whisperer” whose work sits at the center of some of ODHS’ most complex decisions. Dana talks about Medicaid as a living structure that shapes who gets care and who risks falling through the cracks, and what it’s like to lead through HR1: shifting federal guidance, new work requirements, and rules that can leave even experts saying, “Wait…what?”
She explains how those changes land with OEP workers and frontline staff, and what they mean for Oregon families navigating a safety net under strain. Dana describes Oregon’s decades of work building a compassionate Medicaid infrastructure, and why the focus now is on mitigating harm and preserving the foundation so it can be rebuilt when conditions change. She also shares her own path as a self-described “accidental leader” and “planned bureaucrat,” and why she chooses to stay in Oregon public service: a belief that government exists to help people, not to say no. The episode also includes a lighthearted holiday message celebrating the ODHS “North Pole heroes” working through the season.
Our Celebrity PSA: A holiday wish with a long “Elf” life (15:05)
Credits Hosts: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications and Shenika — Community Partnership Coordinator, District 10
Produced by: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
Contact: Questions / feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
Season 1, Episode 32: Dec. 15, 2025 18:07
This week, we’re rolling into the holidays Mystery Machine–style, cruising foggy Oregon roads with a full cast of Scooby-inspired stories — from compassionate holiday moments to agency-wide reminders that keep our teams safe, steady, and informed. We’re talking festive decorating do’s and don’ts, a federal update that cuts through the rumor fog, and a Velma-level spotlight on staff whose courage, clarity, and lived experience keep ODHS moving with heart. And as always, we close with a Writer’s Round-Up that pulls all the clues together — lanterns, belfries, meddling kids and all.
What’s Inside
Deadline: ODHS (5:28)
No new deadlines, but…
A few holiday decorating reminders on tree safety, light sensitivity, and inflatables
Fact of the Week (8:29)
Proposed federal public charge updates
Design, Real, Delivered (10:06)
Darla Sett: Leadership in military service & mental/behavioral health review
Billy Cordero: Lived experience shaping resource family recruitment
Joy Plummer: Disability advocacy and AbleNet leadership
Liesl Wendt and Rolanda Garcia bid adieu to KOIN’s Jeff Gianola
Writer’s Round-Up (15:47)
A mystery solved by ODHS’s “meddling” everyday heroes
Credits
Host: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications
Produced by: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
Contact: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
The federal government has proposed changes to the public charge rule—used by immigration officers to decide whether someone seeking a visa or green card may depend heavily on government support—but the rules have not changed, and the 2022 public charge rule remains in effect. Most ODHS benefits do not count toward public charge; currently, only Medicaid-funded long-term care in a nursing home and TANF cash assistance are included, and the proposal does not add new programs. People can still safely apply for medical, food, cash, and child care benefits. Although the proposal would allow immigration officers to consider more information when reviewing applications, this will take time and is not yet in place. ODHS is monitoring federal updates, preparing guidance, and working with partners to address confusion, since fear and misinformation have historically caused immigrant and mixed-status families to avoid essential services—leading to worse health outcomes, reduced program use, and more strain on safety-net providers.
Season 1, Episode 31: Dec. 10, 202530 min, 28 sec.
What’s inside The Big Picture
This week, The Big Picture heads to Corvallis for a conversation with benefit eligibility worker and Mi Gente ERG chair Umberto Nation, who breaks down what ERGs are really meant to do. He explains how they began as a way to bridge communities who often view government as distant, and the ODHS staff who share their cultural background and language.
Umberto highlights the internal side of ERGs—recruiting, supporting, and promoting members of underrepresented communities—and the external work of showing up locally, hearing real concerns, and bringing that insight back to the agency. He also shares how ERGs stepped up during COVID-19 to reach people who might otherwise have been cut off from critical information.
The episode reflects on why these groups matter now, especially as some states move away from them, and how they help ODHS stay connected, informed, and human in its service to Oregonians.
Credits Hosts: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications Shenika — Community Partnership Coordinator, District 10
Produced by Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
Contact Questions / feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
And in our Celebrity-SA: “Neil Before the Awesomeness of the SAGP’s… (16:51)
Season 1, Episode 30:
Dec. 8, 2025
19:31
This week, we’re cranking the dial all the way into 1990s radio nostalgia — where big-hearted updates meet big-haired energy, and every announcement lands like a power ballad hitting its final key change. From seasonal well-being tools and inclusive recruitment support to ERG community building and statewide planning for Oregon’s older adults, we’re spinning a playlist packed with clarity, care, and a few unexpected deep cuts. Then, as always, we close with a Writer’s Round-Up that pays tongue-in-cheek tribute to the era of dramatic dedications and even more dramatic feelings.
What’s Inside
Deadline: ODHS (5:51)
Seasonal well-being supports
CRM skill-building, neurodivergent-inclusive recruitment
The RaIN ERG’s year-end gathering
Mission: In Policy (10:56)
Plain Language Update – Avoiding Idioms
Classification Implementation
APD’s 2026–2030 State Plan on Aging
Writer’s Round-Up (16:01)
A full-tilt, melodramatic long-distance dedication from the people of Oregon to the people of ODHS — tissues, eye-rolls, and heartfelt excess included
Credits
Host: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications
Produced by: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
On November 24, the Governor’s Office received a new letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In this letter, USDA repeated a request that Oregon provide specific SNAP eligibility information for every household member dating back to Jan. 1, 2020.
The request includes personal information, such as names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, immigration status, income details, and EBT card numbers for every person listed on a SNAP case.
USDA is requiring states to either send the full data within 30 days or send written objections by noon EST on December 8. At this time, however, no data has been sent from Oregon and we and our multistate legal partners are still negotiating.
Season 1, Episode 29: Dec. 3, 2025 28 min, 21 sec.
What’s inside The Big Picture
This week’s episode brings us to the Newport storefront office on the Oregon coast, where Bethany sits down with OEP eligibility workers Perla Garcia and Susan Reed for a candid conversation about serving families in a season shaped by HR-1, federal shutdown fears, and fast-shifting benefit rules. Perla and Susan describe what it’s like to be the first person someone sees when their SNAP benefits are delayed or uncertain, and how they navigate those conversations with honesty, empathy, and practical guidance.
They share how coastal realities—winter layoffs, tourism-based income, long travel distances, and high food insecurity—shape the urgency of their work, and how both formal supports (food pantries, churches, tribal commodities programs) and informal “coconut telegraph” networks help keep people afloat. As longtime members of the community, they talk about how local knowledge and cultural connection help them deliver hard news with compassion.
The episode closes with reflections on belonging, resilience, and what it means for ODHS staff to hold the line between uncertainty and hope when so much remains unknown.
Credits Hosts: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications Shenika — Community Partnership Coordinator, District 10
Produced by Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
Contact Questions / feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
And in our Celebrity-SA: Winter is Coming… (14:33)
Season 1, Episode 28: Dec. 1, 202519 mins. 41 secs.
From a moving office party to maintaining statewide momentum, this edition heads out with a full itinerary: one “Transformation”al December deadline, and a travel-themed tour through four examples of the Magnificent Seven: the new Milton-Freewater office, fresh ERG membership updates, ODHS in the Veteran’s Day Parade, and a statewide Stand Down recap. Then, as always, we’ll wrap the whirlwind in a Writer’s Round-Up that tries to stick the Steve on landing.
What’s Inside
Deadline: ODHS (4:50)
Dec. 8 All-Staff Office Hours overview and action steps
FACT of the Week: (6:21)
New Resource Guides now available to support families during fast federal changes
The Magnificent Seven (8:29)
IMT leads statewide food-access response during the hunger emergency
Milton-Freewater office moves to a new trauma-informed location on Dec. 8
ERG membership and mentoring opportunities available for all staff
ODHS participates in the Linn County Veteran’s Day Parade
Statewide 2025 Stand Downs support Veterans with essential service
Writer’s Round-Up (17:20)
“The Muse News”: Bringing the voice of classic Steve Martin-style to the week
Credits
Host: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications
Produced by: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
Contact: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
Season 1, Episode 27: Nov. 25, 2025 34 min, 38 sec.
What’s inside The Big Picture
This Friendsgiving edition of The Big Picture brings together author and journalist Nico Lang, whose book American Teenager follows transgender youth and their families, and Keya Rolston, OEP Change Leader and PFLAG organizer in Prineville—“Prideville” for the weekend. Nico shares stories like Jack and Auggie’s family in Florida, where domestic violence, homelessness, and loss of Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care layered trauma on top of survival—and how telling their story became a space for processing, not just reporting. The conversation looks at how, especially in so-called “red states,” safety often comes from local communities of care: affirming schools, clinics, libraries, and neighbors who say, “You’re okay. We’ve got you.”
Keya brings those themes home to rural Oregon, talking about what it means to be the community in a small town and how ODHS staff, health partners, and librarians can form a trusted circle around LGBTQ+ youth. Together, Nico and Keya make the case for American Teenager as a must-read for ODHS staff—not just because it explains what trans and gender-diverse youth are facing, but because it shows them as full human beings navigating poverty, violence, joy, and big questions about the future. The episode closes with both guests reflecting on what “home” means, and how building a world where trans kids can grow up safe, supported, and free brings all of us closer to the kind of community we want to be.
And in our Celebrity-SA: There’s No Better Way, than the Janeway (19:55)
Credits: Hosts: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications Shenika — Community Partnership Coordinator, District 10
Produced by Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
ContactQuestions / feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
Season 1, Episode 26: Nov. 24, 2025
18 mins. 18 secs.
From mystery casseroles to meaningful clarity, this Friendsgiving edition of Sometimes a Great Podcast serves up a full table’s worth of updates — two deadline reminders for December 1, one reassuring Fact of the Week, four policy dishes, and a closing reflection inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood.
What’s Inside
Deadline: ODHS (3:48)
New Workday Learning login process for EELearners begins Dec. 1
Support + troubleshooting resources for partners and providers
Mission: In Policy (7:14)
ICE-related staff safety guidance
New ODHS-branded stationery + business cards
2025–2027 compensation updates
HSS/HSCM classification changes
Writer’s Round-Up (14:02)
Friendsgiving in the Hundred Acre Wood — a reflection on shared work and small kindnesses
Credits
Hosts: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe, Communications, and Shenika, Community Partnership Coordinator, D10.
Produced by: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
As of this week, "Incoming Director Liesl Wendt" is now simply "Director." In recognition, one of non-America's most famous fake coaches wanted to offer his congratulations.
Nothing about SNAP recertification has changed in Oregon. People should continue following their normal reporting and renewal schedule unless ODHS contacts them directly. Most households renew every 12 months with a 6-month report, while older adults and people with disabilities who have no earned income renew every 24 months with a 12-month report. Any additional reviews or reporting requirements are routine parts of SNAP. States cannot shorten certification periods or require early reapplications without official USDA guidance, and Oregon has received no such instructions. With the federal shutdown now over and funding restored, SNAP benefits are being issued on their regular schedule, and customers can check certification dates through their ONE Online Account, the ONE Mobile App, the Customer Service Center, or their local ODHS office.
The Big Picture: “I feel it, too,” Jessica Ventura, director of OIRA
Season 1, Episode 25: Nov. 19, 2025
30 min
What’s inside The Big Picture
This week’s episode features Jessica Ventura, Director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, whose lived experience shapes her leadership in this moment of heightened fear and uncertainty. Jessica crossed the border at age five, grew up undocumented in North Portland, and carries firsthand insight into what communities are feeling today.
Jessica talks about why naming fear doesn’t make it bigger—it makes it survivable. She reflects on how “survival mode” became a path to service, and why strategic planning, community voice, and long-term vision are essential tools for supporting immigrant and refugee communities across Oregon.
The conversation also explores the ripple effects many are seeing now: veterans feeling retraumatized, small businesses losing customers, and families quietly making emergency plans. Through it all, Jessica returns to connection, honesty, and community as the strongest counterweights to fear. As Oregon’s people remind her that across differences, we share more in common than we think.
Credits:
Hosts: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications
Shenika — Community Partnership Coordinator, District 10
Produced by Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
ContactQuestions / feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
Season 1, Episode 24: Nov. 17, 2025
21 mins. 54 secs.
From the first jolt of Monday caffeine to the last refill that gets you through a long afternoon, this week’s episode is brewed for anyone running on grit, heart, and a little extra espresso. Each story percolates with warmth and resilience — from Oregon’s SNAP shutdown response to updates from Trauma Aware that kept our teams steady through uncertainty. Pour yourself a fresh cup and join Bethany and Shenika as they stir together guidance, gratitude, and the kind of everyday strength that keeps ODHS going, one steady sip at a time.
What’s Inside
Deadline: ODHS (4:30)
Federal court orders release of full November SNAP benefits.
Oregon issues benefits overnight on Nov. 7, ahead of other states.
Governor Kotek and Acting Director Wendt confirm benefits will not be reversed.
State continues monitoring federal legal activity as shutdown unfolds.
Celebrate: ODHS (9:33)
District 13 Harvest Share Partnership
Staff in Wallowa, Union, and Baker counties deliver produce during SNAP uncertainty.Collaboration with Harvest Share strengthens local food access and community trust.
Messages of Gratitude from Across Oregon
Thousands thank ODHS for rapid overnight issuance of SNAP benefits.
Praise from community partners, tribal leaders, local governments, and SNAP recipients.
Staff encouraged to view the gratitude book as a reminder of their statewide impact.
Survivor: Oregon — Trauma Aware (14:00)
Intro to Trauma Aware ODHS
Updated Trauma Informed Toolbox includes new guidance for supporting families affected by the SNAP delay.
Focus on building resilience, safety, equity, and supportive environments for staff and customers.
Suicide Prevention Guide
New ODHS resource offering compassionate approaches to difficult conversations.
Safe language, warning signs, and training pathways for staff.
From Reaction to Reason
Trauma-aware strategies for de-escalation and grounding during tense interactions.
Emphasis on regulate–relate–reason, safe communication, and self-care during high-stress moments.
Writer’s Round-Up (18:33)
Bethany brings a Hemingway-style, coffee-charged reflection on resilience, relief, and the ODHS teams who kept Oregon steady through a turbulent week — proving once again that courage comes in many forms, sometimes even in a well-timed refill.
Credits
Co-Hosts:
Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications
Shenika - District 10, Community Partnership Coordinator
Produced by: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
Contact: Questions / feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
FACT of the Week
November 12, 2025
1 Min. 41 sec.
Summary: This week’s information comes from the priority alert originally sent on Monday, November 10, featuring the latest status of November SNAP benefits. To start with the essentials: a federal court ordered the release of 100 percent of monthly benefits, and ODHS moved quickly to issue funds to all eligible Oregonians on November 7. Over the weekend, the Trump Administration attempted to challenge that decision, but that action won’t reverse what Oregon has already done — benefits that were issued will stay on cards, and people should use their EBT funds normally. ODHS will continue sharing updates as the federal legal situation shifts.
Season 1, Episode 21: Nov. 5, 2025 35 min
What’s inside The Big Picture
This week’s episode of The Big Picture: The Voices of ODHS is the conclusion of an intimate, forward-looking conversation with Bree Scarborough, a mother rebuilding stability for her family; Victoria Neil, her Child Welfare permanency worker; and Christine Warner, her Family Coach from Self-Sufficiency Programs. Bree shares how trust turned “I’ll just hear no” into concrete support—gas cards for visits and court, a laptop for college—and how that shifted her inner script from “I don’t know what to do” to “I know who to trust” to “I trust myself.” Victoria and Christine reflect on normalizing the ask, building resourcefulness, and coordinating across programs so families can move from crisis to self-sufficiency. The conversation closes with identity and place—what makes Oregon feel like home—revealing how communication, compassion, and cross-program partnership can transform service delivery into shared success.
Credits:
Hosts:
Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications Shenika — Community Partnership Coordinator, District 10
Produced by
Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
Contact
Questions / feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
Season 1, Episode 20: Nov. 10, 2025
18 min
From brushstrokes of service to bold lines of compassion, this week’s episode paints a portrait of progress across ODHS. Under the theme Resilience in Five Movements, each story adds color and texture — from statewide food-support coordination to preparedness, safety, and care. Join Bethany in a solo studio session where art meets action, and every stroke tells a story of service.
In this episode
Deadline: ODHS (4:51)
Oregon’s coordinated food-support response during the federal government shutdown. At the Governor’s request, OREM activated a statewide system to track unmet food needs and keep Oregon’s food lifeline strong while SNAP funds are delayed.
In lieu of FACT of the Week (6:11)
A celebration of the very best of ODHS
Survivor: Oregon (10:00)
OREM / SNAP Delay Response — Incident Management System coordinates data and support statewide.
OREM & UCAN (Douglas County) — Resilience Hub Grant funds generator for regional food warehouse.
West Coast Health Alliance — States partner to maintain vaccine access and affordability.
Domestic & Sexual Violence Supports — Expanded TA-DVS funding and staff safety resources.
Winter Preparedness — Review procedures, update contact info, and sign up for OR-Alert.
Great ShakeOut & OHSE Forums — Statewide drills and health-safety participation strengthen readiness.
Writer’s Wrap-Up (17:55) Bethany brings the week’s canvas to life with humor and heart — OREM’s mountain of resilience, vaccine trees, and happy little process improvements reminding us that every effort adds beauty to Oregon’s shared picture.
Credits:
Host: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications
Produced by: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe
Contact: Questions / feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov
Four Minutes for the Fed: Nov. 7, 2025
Governor Tina Kotek announced that all Oregonians receiving SNAP benefits now have access to their full November allotments following a federal court order requiring the Trump Administration to release 100% of national SNAP funding.
When the court issued its ruling yesterday afternoon, Governor Kotek immediately directed the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) to act. Teams across the agency worked through the night with Oregon’s electronic benefits transfer (EBT) vendor to ensure full benefits were available by Friday morning.
More than 750,000 Oregonians are now seeing their complete November food benefits restored on their Oregon Trail Cards—regardless of their usual payment schedule.
Because of the emergency preparations Governor Kotek ordered earlier in the month, ODHS was able to respond within hours, making Oregon one of the first states in the nation to process and release funds immediately after the judge’s ruling.
At the end of another week of servicing humans, there should always be a little bit of time for fun...