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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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.