[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6249431,"mediaKeyId","3205358-0ed08ccacdd11f4c012b99e1447cf130","parentId",3205358,"title","DHS front-line staff tell Senate committee heavy caseloads, tech problems and understaffing delay services","audioSeconds",3398,"startMs",1171000,"endMs",4569000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3205358-0ed08ccacdd11f4c012b99e1447cf130&start=1171&end=4569","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3205358-0ed08ccacdd11f4c012b99e1447cf130/thumbnail_1171000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6249431/Oregon/DHS-front-line-staff-tell-Senate-committee-heavy-caseloads-tech-problems-and-understaffing-delay-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6249431-a44341427482bd45f1f9c26f31d757d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773597449&Signature=UJogcCLFJ6-YEQn3~fJLphn~5cwjKxqZmak0qSh5SZ92ZWD6fmZR0Vl50tgPLFIovRwNT5JIw4-2VobJvmd-ISaTb42ZaQZUcrZqVLNRBzgO7~52PpRasaRBe6QAjd6IGKVmVsklSyqYQ-xeWmu1KS95ulLIMO5nSWJGrD~EhL9MSqWkzK4Skd-ykSsTmF1dB2Icil4wMF-b5M8NzFAA6jmEIg2G8DUpZbU6cMxc6JjuUnI~E1oNgVfEfmdMmsUC5y5~NLBGzUXjidS~3pBbjerB9lte-FDZ5JEnSkiI~onkOxeoFrzlFoYTkdPdrYtdrVkiNRMbDLqI~Q5WnHydrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","After the public hearing on House Bill 3224 A, the Senate Committee on Human Services heard from front-line employees and contractors who deliver services across Oregon. Ten speakers described high caseloads, staffing shortages, outdated technology and safety concerns that they said are delaying services to vulnerable Oregonians.

Case managers and investigators from child welfare, adult protective services, developmental disability programs and eligibility teams described situations in which lengthy processing times and staff turnover reduced the attention each client received. “I currently have about over 100 consumers on my caseload,” Esperanza Khamis, a bilingual case manager at Northwest Senior and Disability Services, told the committee. Michael McNeil, an Adult Protective Services investigator, said he had 103 open cases at the time he spoke and that the workload forced him to triage to imminent-risk cases.

Other speakers offered concrete examples of impacts. Dathan Warman, a Clackamas County Medicaid case manager on the statewide intake team, said delayed approvals can be life-altering: a consumer withdrew an application and moved out of state because supports could not be put in place in time. Melissa Brooks, lead adult service coordinator for Columbia Community Mental Health, said caseloads on her team range from the mid‑40s to as many as 67 for one coordinator.

Eligibility staff described slow and fragile technology that adds to processing time. “Adding a newborn in the old system took about 8 minutes. Adding a newborn in the new eligibility system often takes over an hour,” said Kelly Shepherd, a human services specialist with the Oregon Eligibility Program. Shepherd and Em Johnson, another eligibility worker in Eastern Oregon, said the workers are operating with roughly half the staffing their model requires and that system delays make it harder to complete thorough interviews and case notes.

Speakers from child welfare and permanency units said turnover and temporary- lodging demands increase workloads. Joellen Billington of child protective services said workers sometimes receive seven cases in a week despite a caseload model that plans for seven per month. Permanency worker Cece Jenkins said her unit at times operated with three permanency workers for a roster intended for eight or nine, driving individual caseloads as high as 27 children.

Family coaches and TANF case managers described similar pressures. Lonnie Bass, a family coach in Pendleton, said local caseloads have reached as high as 42 families for a single coach and that coaches in larger regions reported even higher numbers. Speakers also noted rural service gaps: Em Johnson said people in Eastern Oregon sometimes must travel long distances for basic medical care.

Multiple speakers asked for smaller caseloads, better staffing, improved technology, and recognition of the emotional toll of the work. Several urged more training and program alignment so community partners could work across systems without repeated duplicative steps. No formal actions were taken during the informational session; the committee closed the panel after hearing the testimonials and discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee On Human Services 05/06/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","In an informational session following the bill hearing, about 10 front-line DHS workers and contractors described heavy caseloads, safety concerns, and slow eligibility systems that they say delay care and increase staff burnout.","taxTitle","Human Services, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17924,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6249436,"Senate committee opens hearing on bill directing DHS to study and streamline background checks",1129,2000,1131000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3205358-0ed08ccacdd11f4c012b99e1447cf130&start=2&end=1131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3205358-0ed08ccacdd11f4c012b99e1447cf130/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6249436/Oregon/Senate-committee-opens-hearing-on-bill-directing-DHS-to-study-and-streamline-background-checks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6249436-7d416d3c598f1461b4832919ad93f68e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773597449&Signature=GsQxVAZ5reoKPwiM0DnsLQLbOyhCszvL26LxOPzFO3Qo-nkL6lbudW3j3ajwAdQKWHCqbu-hyuiR82UfCICSt-RcGnPxnSwC4R0mCGnUzlyNiog3hW8F7rWi9Qm6e~LJbsDZZM9w7voHh5lAyjob1ft4ggYX254hqkuyUJSU6Vl6akG4iCzkb4YUlnDTcvfNeQ5p32HpFycBna9cYEqFGD2ezUlxutmVTw5bk0OXxZ4F9QoD3DSC9PsEa0i3zF3GVvOzq-C9WVEgnGZfu7LlnrdIOgEjPfA~9GVUl0ujTGIc63AQh2MG5K0SIM9s6CGBl6HC5DMHNjQEr8nfhHIPgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Human Services opened a public hearing on House Bill 3224 A, which would direct the Oregon Department of Human Services to review statutes and administrative rules and report back to the Legislative Assembly on opportunities to reduce duplicate background checks for occupations serving children, seniors and people with disabilities.

Representative Nancy Nathanson, sponsor of the bill, told the committee that dozens of occupations require criminal background checks and that workers often face multiple, costly screenings even to perform similar jobs in the same community. “Separate checks are required for an individual working even at the same occupation, but at a different address or in a different county,” Nathanson said.

The bill would require the department to identify similarities and differences among the various checks administered by the Background Check Unit at the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), study options to consolidate or reduce redundant checks, and propose methods to avoid a person undergoing an additional background check within 12 months if they recently passed one. Nathanson said the Background Check Unit currently handles more than 100 different background checks and processes.

Supporters who testified included nonprofit providers, long-term care representatives, school officials and labor unions. Anna Day, executive director of Oregon Community Programs, said the bill aims to preserve safety while cutting needless delays: “Reducing the wait times, reducing the administrative burdens, and reducing the unnecessary delays helps us keep kids safe and do it quickly when kids need the care that they need.” Meredith Koba of the Oregon Health Care Association told senators that delays drive potential caregivers away: “The delays in background checks cause applicants to reconsider waiting 30 to 60 days for a job in caregiving, and the recheck delays are incredibly problematic.”

Stacey Michaelson, representing the Oregon School Boards Association, said K–12 standards sometimes differ from other child-serving systems and that better alignment could help school-community partnerships. Rachel Hansen, a policy strategist with SEIU Local 503, said the bill lays groundwork for reforms such as a universal provider number and a wrap-back system to improve portability of credentials.

The bill does not change statutes on its own; it directs ODHS to report findings and recommendations to the Legislative Assembly. Nathanson told the committee that the bill previously passed out of a House committee unanimously and passed the full House unanimously. The committee did not take a vote at the hearing; senators heard testimony and then proceeded to an informational panel with front-line providers.

The 2012 legislative-directed work group previously recommended aligning background checks across logical clusters of work; proponents said HB 3224 A is intended to follow up on that earlier work by focusing first on occupations administered by the DHS Background Check Unit.

No formal committee action or vote was recorded during the hearing. If advanced, the bill would require ODHS to submit reports to the Legislative Assembly describing findings and options; the hearing record did not specify the report deadlines or implementation details.

Supporters listed in testimony included Oregon Community Programs, the Oregon Health Care Association, the Oregon Alliance of Children's Programs, SEIU Local 503 and the Oregon School Boards Association.","A Senate Human Services hearing opened on House Bill 3224 A, which would direct the Oregon Department of Human Services to review statutes and administrative rules to identify redundant background checks for people working with children, seniors and people with disabilities and to report options to consolidate processes.","actionData","errors"]

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DHS front-line staff tell Senate committee heavy caseloads, tech problems and understaffing delay services

Senate committee opens hearing on bill directing DHS to study and streamline background checks