Director's Message

Dec. 28, 2007

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, M.D., director

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"An optimist stays up to see the New Year in. A pessimist waits to make sure the old one leaves."
~Bill Vaughan

I look forward to the new year, the wonderful accomplishments that lie ahead for us, and the many great things that together we can achieve. But, before we depart this year and enter the next, as the day's light begins to lengthen, it's a good time to reflect for a moment on what has passed. This has been a year full of accomplishments, some disappointments and, of course, changes.

On the accomplishment side, we've made many significant strides forward throughout the agency. These improvements have gone a long way to helping us better serve our clients and the public.

We began moving forward with a redesign of the state's mental health system, including development of a new state psychiatric facility, a place for healing and recovery, in Salem. We implemented the new child safety model and redesigned the TANF program to better serve Oregonians in need. And, we received federal authorization to reopen Oregon Health Plan Standard to a number of new clients.

New legislation created a long-term care partnership program, expanded protections for adults with developmental disabilities, and enhanced the drinking water monitoring program. We also received state funding to expand the number of school-based health clinics that serve the highest-need areas in the state and to increase the wages for providers of developmental disability services.

Public health laws were updated and strengthened, coordination with county health departments was enhanced, and improvements were made in disaster preparedness. In addition, great strides were made in our ability to prevent two of the leading causes of disease and disability in our state -- tobacco use and obesity. The Legislature passed a bill to protect us from second-hand smoke, making all bars and restaurants smoke-free by 2009. Tobacco Prevention and Education Program funding was restored. And, children will be healthier now that HB 2650, which eliminates junk food in schools, was passed.

We also improved our internal efficiencies and financial management systems, and initiated the first phase of our "transformation initiative" to improve our ability to deliver health and human services to Oregonians.

But there were disappointments as well. Oregon voters did not pass the Healthy Kids Plan and, sadly, too many children, too many adults and too many of our neighbors remain without health coverage. SCHIP expansion failed when Congress was unable to override a Presidential veto. And it appears as though federal timber revenues to Oregon counties remain at risk, which may hurt delivery of local public health, mental health and senior services. All of these events will force us to be more creative in finding ways to reach the people who need our assistance.

And there have been leadership changes this past year typical of a large, dynamic agency such as DHS.

Long-time CAF director Ramona Foley retired, to be replaced on an interim basis by Bryan Johnston. Jim Edge was appointed to lead DMAP, and Rick Howard was named the department's CIO. Our chief administrative officer, Fariborz Pakseresht, has temporarily stepped away from his role to lead the transformation initiative. And, as many of you know by now, Susan Allan has announced her departure from the PHD effective at the end of January. Her role will be filled on an interim basis by Michael Skeels, director of the Oregon Public Health Laboratory. We are very fortunate to have this pool of capable leaders and we need to develop more.

Most importantly, Oregon is extremely fortunate to have the over 9,500 talented and dedicated employees of DHS, all of you, whose commitment to achieving the department's mission made possible the kinds of accomplishments we achieved this past year and those we all expect to see in the year ahead.

I thank each of you for your contributions during this past year, and look forward to everything we can accomplish together next year. We can, and we will, do great things!

I wish you a happy, healthy and safe new year.

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

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.