OREGON – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has released its fourth-quarter report, showcasing progress in the child welfare system. The report details improvements in child safety assessments and foster care placements.
ODHS highlights a significant increase in the timely completion of child safety assessments. The percentage of assessments completed within 60 days rose from 38.2% in January to 50.5% in December 2025. This improvement is part of the ODHS Safety Action Plan.
ODHS also reported a reduction in the use of temporary lodging for children awaiting residential care. The average number of children in temporary lodging per night decreased to 8.33 in 2025, down from 10.86 in 2024. This decline is due to increased capacity in specialized care programs.
The placement of children with relatives has seen a positive trend as well. The proportion of children placed with relatives when entering foster care increased from 24.6% in January to 44.4% in December 2025. This improvement followed the implementation of the Relative Pathway certification process.
ODHS Director Liesl Wendt emphasized the agency’s commitment to transparency and ongoing progress. “We are making important progress in the way we serve children and families, and we have more work to do,” said Wendt.
The ODHS report will continue to be published quarterly to track progress on key initiatives.
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