Director's Message

July 28, 2006

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, Director

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.
~Henry David Thoreau

I recently received a report showing that half of all DHS employees will be eligible to retire within the next five years. That's an astounding number.

As I considered what that means for this agency and our ability to serve the public, it led me to think about what we need to do to encourage professional and personal growth for our employees, so that our staff -- you -- can be ready to step into the many new roles we will need to fill in the next few years. What are we doing as an agency to help develop and use our employees' talents -- your talents -- in ways that will best serve Oregonians? And what are you doing as an individual to stay motivated and keep learning?

Every day we face more human service needs than we as an agency can meet. We encounter people in desperate circumstances, we deal with tough issues that can tug at our hearts and deplete our energies. It can be hard to face these issues day after day, hard to meet the ongoing workload, let alone take the time to recharge or plan ahead for career development opportunities. But we need to do this, in ways both big and small.

As an agency, DHS offers a variety of formal training opportunities for staff at all levels. We also are revising our new employee orientation process and updating our mentoring program to do more to encourage personal and professional growth. Outside of DHS there are numerous developmental opportunities offered through DAS and other organizations. A range of informal growth opportunities also exists within DHS such as book clubs, diversity events and other activities.

The opportunities are there, but the next step is up to you. What are you doing to take advantage of these opportunities, and what are you doing to stay energized about your work?

When you receive notices via e-mail of upcoming training opportunities, take the time to consider whether those courses would be useful and if you should ask your supervisor for permission to participate. If you're a supervisor, encourage your employees to learn and grow. Look on the DHS Web site occasionally for information about developmental opportunities. You also might want to check into classes offered through DAS or professional organizations. Most importantly, think about what you want to be doing in five years and ask yourself what you would need to do to make that possible.

It's also important to take time to recharge, which is easy to forget in our hectic work and personal lives. Do you occasionally take long weekends or a vacation to relax? Do you take the time to read, garden, walk or just make time for yourself? Re-energizing yourself to be able to bring a fresh outlook to your daily work can be just as important as long-term career growth. We're in the middle of the traditional vacation season right now, but you might want to think about the need to re-energize yourself as an ongoing process, not just a once-a-year activity.

Our employees -- you -- are the most important resource Oregonians have to address their needs. The best thing you can do for our clients and for yourself is to find ways to use your talents wisely and to the best of your ability, both now and in the future. The opportunities for growth are there. I encourage you to use them.

To provide feedback email: DHS.Directorsoffice@state.or.us

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This message is intended for all department employees. Please read it electronically, if possible. Managers and supervisors are asked to share the message each week with employees who do not have email access.