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January 16, 2003 Contact: Jean I. Thorne (503) 945-5944, Jim Sellers (503) 945-5738 Human Services to examine alignment of policy and field offices A 35-year child-welfare veteran was named Thursday to head field operations in the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) for the next six months, and to advise how best to strengthen ties between the agency's policy offices and field operations. She is Ramona Foley, 58, Salem, who joined DHS in 1999 and for the past two years has led the agency's policy office for Children, Adults and Families. DHS Acting Director Jean I. Thorne said Foley would retain her policy responsibilities while also directing the 4,300-employee field staff. Thorne said the move strengthens the agency reorganization that was launched in the fall of 2000. "It's important that we have strong links between the group that makes policy and the field staff that implements it," Thorne said. "Ramona Foley will ensure strong communication and authority between the two. I will ask her to advise me on how most effectively to integrate our field offices with policy for child welfare, self-sufficiency, health services, and seniors and people with disabilities." When she took the Oregon job, Foley headed both policy and field operations for DHS child-welfare services. As field manager, Foley succeeds Bill Fink of Salem, who had asked for a reassignment late last year. Fink, who has 25-plus years'experience as a human services manager, has held management positions in DHS budget, vocational rehabilitation, mental health and developmental disabilities. Thorne said Fink would work as a budget analyst with the agency's finance and policy analysis staff. Fink's deputy, Shirley Iverson, a DHS self-sufficiency manager since 1988 who previously worked in California, will be reassigned to another position within the department. "I greatly appreciate the energy and dedication that Bill Fink, Shirley Iverson and so many others have brought to our initiative to improve services to Oregonians across the state," Thorne said. "We will build on the solid foundation that is in place to strengthen services to clients and accountability to the public," Foley said. Thorne said Foley will name top-level staff to support her in both policy and field operations. Foley, who began her career in 1967 as a South Carolina child-welfare and public-assistance caseworker, has earned a national reputation for her child-welfare work and has held national leadership positions. She held South Carolina's top child-welfare management position before joining DHS. She holds a master's degree in social work from the University of South Carolina. DHS, an agency with about 9,500 employees and a two-year budget of $9.3 billion, delivers child-welfare, self-sufficiency, Oregon Health Plan, alcohol and drug, public health, mental health and vocational rehabilitation services, as well as those for seniors and people with disabilities. |
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