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709 Chapter 3:Processes and procedures • Section 5: Program integrity (07/2026) Public and elected officials Except for Social Security numbers, health, treatment and domestic violence information, no authorization is required to provide the minimum necessary information in response to a staff member in the office of a member of the Oregon Legislature or U.S. Congress who has received a complaint from an individual and the program responding is provided with a copy of the written complaint. Oral authorization is required if an ODHS|OHA worker is contacted by a staff member in the office of a member of the Oregon Legislature or U.S. Congress who has received only an oral complaint. The ODHS|OHA worker will confirm with the participant that the worker may speak with the staff member regarding the participant. Confirmation from the participant should be documented in the participant’s file. Other interested persons (friends, neighbors, etc.) If other interested persons are present while the participant is disclosing information about themselves, obtain the participant’s verbal consent to continue confidential conversation with that person present. Written authorization is not needed. An authorization is required if the worker is disclosing any participant-specific information while other interested persons are present. Research No situations Disclosure or review of ODHS|OHA records for research purposes is prohibited unless the designated ODHS|OHA executive manager to approve research requests has authorized the specific person or organization and their research subject. For situations not covered here, contact Central Office. Foster care and adoption assistance For all programs except SNAP, no authorization is required to disclose information for purposes directly connected with foster care and adoption assistance under title IV-E of the Social Security Act. All other situations Individual request for their own information No authorization is required to disclose information to the individual themselves. Not applicable Guardians No authorization is required for that subject matter/information over which the guardian has authority. The guardian has the same access to the participant file as the participant in those areas. A guardian with full powers would have access to the entire file. If unclear, ODHS|OHA may ask to see the order of court appointment.