Missing Child Alert – Joshua Makalea Is Missing And Is Believed To Be In Danger (Photo) -03/28/25

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Joshua Makalea, age 17, a child in foster care who went missing from Monmouth on March 14. He is believed to be in danger.

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

Joshua is known to frequent Dallas, Independence, Monmouth and Albany. He may be in or trying to travel to Sacramento, California.  

Name: Joshua Makalea
Pronouns: He/him
Date of birth: Jan. 14, 2008
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 145 pounds
Hair: Brown, most recently dyed black
Eye color: Hazel
Other identifying information: Joshua’s often bleaches his hair
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Case #25-3007
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2045779

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.

###

Missing Child Alert – Belia Cardoza Is Missing And Believed To Be At Risk (Photo) -03/26/25

Correction: This alert has been updated to accurately report the law enforcement case number. 

(Salem) – Belia Cardoza, age 4, went missing with her father Sammy Cardoza from Portland on March 19. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division believes that Belia Cardoza may be at risk and is searching for her to assess her safety.

ODHS asks the public to help in the effort to find Belia Cardoza. Anyone who suspects they have information about the location of Belia Cardoza or Sammy Cardoza should call 911 or the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).

They are believed to be in the Portland area but could be traveling to Texas, California, Virginia, or Minneapolis, MN. Belia may also be with her father’s partner, Hannah Semone Sigari.

Name: Belia Cardoza
Pronouns: She/Hers
Date of birth: July 13, 2020

Height: 3 feet

Weight: 35 pounds

Hair color: Dark Brown

Eye color: Hazel

Gresham Police Department Case #25-11993
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2046324

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.

###

Short Videos Explain How To Solve Common ONE Online Account Challenges -03/21/25

Help Yourself By Filing Your Taxes -- You May Get Money Back (Photo) -03/17/25

Salem, Ore.  – You may think you don’t need to file a tax return. But you might be missing out on getting a big tax refund in the mail. If you need help filing, there’s free help thanks to the Oregon Department of Human Services Tax Infrastructure Program, which 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.

Many working Oregonians aren’t required to file a tax return. Or, they haven’t filed for years. So why bother?

Here are some reasons to file a tax return:

• You could get a significant amount of money back. Your employer may have withheld too much money from your paycheck. You may have excess withholding payments that can be returned to you as a refund, particularly if you worked part time or for only part of the year.

• There’s a bevy of tax credits. There’s the state and federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working people with low incomes; the Oregon Kids Credit if you have children; the Working Family Credit if you have childcare costs;  the Retirement Savings Credit if you’re saving for retirement; the American Opportunity Credit if you attend college; and other credits.
• You are under age 18 and believe your parents file your tax return. A common misconception for families occurs when children work and their parent claims them as a dependent on their return. Depending on how much they worked, young people working part-time can receive hundreds of dollars of excess withholding while still being claimed as a dependent on their parent’s return.
• You have never filed or haven’t filed over the last few years. Many people missed filing their tax return during the pandemic. If you need to file prior year returns, there is free in-person tax filing help available: https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/individuals/Pages/get-free-tax-help.aspx)
• You may be required to file an Oregon return. The income requirements for filing a state return Oregon are much lower than for the federal Internal Revenue Service. For single person with no dependents in Oregon it is $7,710. Check your Oregon filing requirements: https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/individuals/Pages/file-requirements.aspx#fullyear.

• You missed the April 15 tax day deadline and think it’s too late. If you are due a refund, there is no penalty for late filing. Free tax filing help is available through mid-October.

The 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.

• Oregon State University; vita@oregonstate.edu; 541-737-3371; Corvallis, Bend, Eugene OSU VITA website: https://business.oregonstate.edu/volunteer-income-tax-assistance  
• Western Oregon University; wouvita@wou.edu; 503-751-4132; Monmouth, Independence, Falls City; WOU VITA website: https://wou.edu/business-economics/volunteer-income-tax-assistance-vita/.
• CASH Oregon: info@Cashoregon.org; 503-243-7765; Portland, Beaverton, Gresham
• Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO); TAX@irco.org; 971-427-3993; Portland, Ontario       
• Centro de Servicios Para Campesinos; debbiec@Centrodspc.org; 503-982-0243; Woodburn        
• Latino Community Association; info@latinocommunityassociation.org;

541-382-4366; Bend, Redmond               

• Moneywise Oregon; dan@moneywiseoregon.org; 541-670-5054; Coos Bay, Roseburg

UPDATE - Oregon Department Of Human Services Announces That Jordan Holterback Has Been Found -03/14/25

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, is thankful for the community support to find Jordan Holterback.

Jordan Holterback, age 14, is a child who went missing from Newberg on March 8. He was found March 13.

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.

###

ODHS Expands Safety Action Plan With Consultant’s Early Report On Oversight Of Long-term Care -03/12/25

Salem, OR – Today, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) released details of its safety action plan for oversight of providers who serve older adults and people with disabilities who live in facilities and adult foster homes.

The plan follows the preliminary report from a third-party consultant hired to conduct an external assessment of state oversight of licensed long-term care providers.

“Safety is essential to the well-being of the people we serve and is our program’s number one priority,” said Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Ph.D., director of the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD). “A&M’s independent perspective is valuable as we work to better meet people’s needs and prepare to keep pace with demand in coming decades.”

Consultant Alvarez and Marsal (A&M) issued a preliminary report on its findings and recommendations as part of a contract with ODHS to conduct an external assessment of state oversight of licensed long-term care providers. The external consultant began its work at Governor Tina Kotek’s direction following a report released in April 2024 by the Oregon Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s office.

This is all part of the agency’s proactive work to reform the licensing and oversight unit to better align resources with state and federal requirements and strengthen operations.

In 2024, ODHS developed a short- and long-term safety action plan.  ODHS added to that plan with additional 30-, 60- and 90-day goals that build upon this work and align with specific A&M recommendations. Some of these improvements are: 

Improve protocol for responding to serious safety violations

• Action plan: In 30 days update the protocol for an Immediate Jeopardy finding in facilities and adult foster homes with serious safety breaches.

• Already underway: Twice-a-week huddles added in 2024 to give staff additional guidance in responding to serious safety incidents.
   

Clarify Letters of Agreement policy

• Action plan: Update the policy in 30 days for agreements that address provider performance issues that could result in regulatory action. In 60 days, provide training and update the Compliance Framework Guide. In 90 days, convene a Rules Advisory Committee to update Oregon Administrative Rules.

• Already underway: In 2024, APD developed more detailed manager guidance on when a Letter of Agreement would be allowed.
   

Add workshops on statutory requirements

• Action plan: Compile in 30 days a list of statutes by license type to serve as a training tool. In 60 days, managers will complete a refresher review. In 90 days, staff will renew training.

• Already underway: APD leadership identified areas of statute in 2024 to provide additional guidance for managers. 
   

Improve morale and add support for managers

• Action plan: Identify resources within 30 days to develop an employee engagement program. In 60 days, finalize the plan.

• Already underway: Managers in February 2025 began developing staff support strategies in response to an employee survey and feedback.  
   

Address resource shortages in the unit

• Action plan: In 60 days, use results of a second A&M analysis underway to evaluate distribution of resources. 

• Already underway: APD’s budget request included in the Governor's Recommended Budget​ calls for 19​ ​new positions. In 2024,  APD issued a Request for Application for contractors to provide temporary staffing.

When complete by June 2025, A&M’s full assessment will include an evaluation of resources needed to meet current and future demand. ODHS hired A&M through a competitive Request for Proposal process.

Updates on APD’s safety initiatives are provided on the ODHS website.

Missing Child Alert – Jordan Holterback Is Missing And Is Believed To Be In Danger (Photo) -03/12/25

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Jordan Holterback, age 14, a child in foster care who went missing from Newberg on March 8. Jordan is believed to be in danger.

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

Jordan is known to frequent Yamhill County, Marion County, the Portland Metro Area and Seaside.

Name: Jordan Holterback
Pronouns: He/him
Date of birth: Aug. 6, 2010
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 143 pounds
Hair: Light brown
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information: Jordan has braces, a nose ring and pierced ears.
Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office case #25-005567
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2045217

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.

###

Oregon Gets Approval To Extend Deadline For SNAP Replacement Benefits After February Storm (Photo) -03/11/25

Oregon has received approval from the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) to extend the 10 day deadline for households to report food losses and request replacement benefits from the February 24, 2025, storm. The waiver allows 30 days to report food losses for households affected by the storm.

New deadline for SNAP replacement benefits

Households in the approved counties now have until March 26, 2025, to report food losses and ask for replacement benefits.

Approved Counties for the waiver:

People in the following counties can request SNAP replacement benefits by March 26, 2025:

• Benton
• Clackamas
• Clatsop
• Coos
• Deschutes
• Douglas
• Hood River
• Jackson
• Josephine
• Klamath
• Lane
• Lincoln
• Linn
• Marion
• Multnomah
• Polk
• Tillamook
• Washington

What about other counties?

If you live in a county not listed above, the regular 10 day rule applies. You must report food loss within 10 days and provide proof.

How to request SNAP replacement benefits:

You can submit a request to replace the SNAP benefits over the phone, in person, by email, by mail or your ONE online portal:

• Over the phone:

1-800-699-9075 or 711 (TTY)

• In person: (find a local office): Oregon.gov
• Mail: (must be received by the due date) ONE Customer Service Center

PO Box 14015 Salem, OR 97309

• Email: Oregon.Benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov

The information required to replace the SNAP benefits may be found in the form 347D found here: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/de0349d.pdf

When does the waiver end?

The waiver to extend the reporting deadline will last until March 26, 2025. After that, requests for replacement will follow the normal 10 day rule.

About SNAP
SNAP helps low income households buy food. If you qualify, you get benefits that can be used to buy groceries at authorized stores. For more information or to request SNAP replacement benefits, contact your local office or visit the Oregon SNAP benefit website or call 800-699-9075.