/tags/oregon-department-of-human-services Oregon Department of Human Services en-US Copyright Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:31:45 GMT /children-and-family/2025-04-15/oregon-lawmakers-make-it-explicit-no-garbage-bags-for-kids-in-foster-care A conversation on the Senate floor on Monday pivoted from being about a measure requiring the state to provide luggage to kids in foster care rather than trash bags into a larger bipartisan discussion about why the agency charged with kids in its care has struggled for so long. Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:31:45 GMT /children-and-family/2025-04-15/oregon-lawmakers-make-it-explicit-no-garbage-bags-for-kids-in-foster-care Lauren Dake /politics-government/2025-04-07/oregons-ombudsmen-are-supposed-to-be-independent-but-are-they A legislative hearing earlier this year highlighted that a child welfare watchdog doesn't have a ton of independence. Mon, 07 Apr 2025 22:38:34 GMT /politics-government/2025-04-07/oregons-ombudsmen-are-supposed-to-be-independent-but-are-they Lauren Dake /law-and-justice/2024-11-15/the-final-tab-to-taxpayers-to-defend-oregons-troubled-child-welfare-system-possibly-upwards-of-30-million When Oregon’s sweeping child welfare class action lawsuit was finally settled this fall, the judge presiding over the case lamented how “frankly over-lawyered beyond belief” the case had been. Sat, 16 Nov 2024 00:20:08 GMT /law-and-justice/2024-11-15/the-final-tab-to-taxpayers-to-defend-oregons-troubled-child-welfare-system-possibly-upwards-of-30-million Lauren Dake /children-and-family/2024-09-13/federal-judge-approves-historic-oregon-child-welfare-settlement-after-emotional-testimony Three Oregonians talked in a court hearing about the neglect and abuse they endured as children in the state’s foster care system. Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:52:33 GMT /children-and-family/2024-09-13/federal-judge-approves-historic-oregon-child-welfare-settlement-after-emotional-testimony Ben Botkin /children-and-family/2024-08-08/oregon-teen-who-died-by-suicide-often-talked-of-getting-out-of-dhs Family members and the child’s attorney say the 17-year-old boy spent much of his life in the foster care system. Thu, 08 Aug 2024 12:47:22 GMT /children-and-family/2024-08-08/oregon-teen-who-died-by-suicide-often-talked-of-getting-out-of-dhs Lauren Dake /education/2024-06-20/oregon-pilot-program-aims-to-increase-graduation-rates-for-kids-in-foster-care Three schools across Oregon will receive funding in the upcoming school year to run a pilot program helping kids placed in foster care graduate from high school. Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:49:02 GMT /education/2024-06-20/oregon-pilot-program-aims-to-increase-graduation-rates-for-kids-in-foster-care Lauren Dake /health-and-medicine/2024-05-31/womans-death-sparks-calls-for-systemic-changes-in-how-oregon-cares-for-older-adults Ki Soon Hyun's death outside a Sandy memory care facility has put a bright light on significant issues in Oregon. Fri, 31 May 2024 12:19:38 GMT /health-and-medicine/2024-05-31/womans-death-sparks-calls-for-systemic-changes-in-how-oregon-cares-for-older-adults Lauren Dake /children-and-family/2024-05-24/oregon-settles-child-welfare-civil-lawsuit-expert-will-be-appointed-to-oversee-the-troubled-system The settlement stipulates Disability Rights Oregon and the state will agree upon a “neutral,” an expert to oversee the foster care system and work with the individual to improve the child-welfare system, primarily by reducing the rate of mistreatment and improving the quality of placements. Fri, 24 May 2024 13:04:05 GMT /children-and-family/2024-05-24/oregon-settles-child-welfare-civil-lawsuit-expert-will-be-appointed-to-oversee-the-troubled-system Lauren Dake /law-and-justice/2024-05-11/oregon-spent-upwards-of-18-million-to-defend-its-struggling-child-welfare-system-now-the-trial-has-been-potponed In 2019, a national advocacy group filed a class-action lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Human Services, alleging the state mistreats children in its foster care system and has failed to fix glaring problems. Five years and millions of dollars later, the next trial has been delayed as the two sides near a settlement agreement. Sat, 11 May 2024 13:57:19 GMT /law-and-justice/2024-05-11/oregon-spent-upwards-of-18-million-to-defend-its-struggling-child-welfare-system-now-the-trial-has-been-potponed Lauren Dake /law-and-justice/2024-04-30/facing-a-class-action-lawsuit-oregon-dhs-subpoenas-senators-emails-before-she-testifies The agency has subpoenaed nine years of state Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin’s correspondence with constituents, journalists and even Paris Hilton. Tue, 30 Apr 2024 23:44:50 GMT /law-and-justice/2024-04-30/facing-a-class-action-lawsuit-oregon-dhs-subpoenas-senators-emails-before-she-testifies Ben Botkin