Director's Message

Sept. 22, 2006

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, Director

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
Martin Luther King Jr.

Yesterday I participated in our agency's September update to the legislative Emergency Board's Subcommittee on Human Services. It was a good day.

The E-Board, as it's commonly called, is the legislative committee that fulfills the function of the Ways and Means Committee during the interim between regular legislative sessions. This important process allows legislators the opportunity to regularly review how well agencies are meeting budget targets, weigh the costs and benefits of proposed new programs, provide guidance on fiscal processes, and approve or deny requests to accept grants and spend money. Overall, the process helps keep DHS and other agencies on track for meeting legislative goals and serving the public.

Our presentation yesterday, for example, included an update on our ongoing improvements to our financial management processes and requests to accept and spend grant funds for such activities as promoting oral health care among underserved populations and empowering seniors to take more control of their health through evidence-based prevention programs. We also requested support for actions designed to improve patient safety and care at the Oregon State Hospital, as well as approval for several other initiatives. Every division within DHS was affected by the committee's decisions.

I was very pleased with the quality of work displayed by our staff. Even more importantly, the legislators hearing the presentations commended DHS for the progress we are making in becoming more accountable, transparent and efficient.

Representative Dennis Richardson, who chairs the E-Board's Human Services Subcommittee, said that "the openness and transparency the committee has been seeing from DHS is refreshing," and went on to specifically compliment Judy Mohr-Peterson for "doing a great job" in her efforts to improve the accuracy of our caseload forecasts. His statements were echoed by other committee members. The outstanding work of Jim Scherzinger in improving our fiscal operations was also recognized.

Among the other highlights (apologies for not mentioning everyone) was an enthusiastic and expert presentation by JaneEllen Weidanz on the work we have done to help Medicare beneficiaries access the new Medicare drug benefit.

It's always a pleasure to have DHS staff recognized for their good work. However, more importantly, it was clear that the recognition extends to and is deserved by all of us. Your efforts are being noticed! Our improved fiscal picture and our greater ability to serve our clients is a result of the hard work of everyone at DHS. Not only are our forecasts getting better, but our commitment to fiscal and programmatic accountability is making a difference throughout the agency and the state.

Every time you make a decision to be more efficient with resources, suggest process improvements, reduce costs while improving service, and more closely monitor expenditures, you help add to our success. Every time you improve the way we deliver services and do high quality work that benefits the people of Oregon, you add to our collective success as state, a community, and as an organization. And the real winners, of course, are the individuals who benefit from the services we provide.

As we get closer to the start of the 2007 Legislative Session, we are building a deserved reputation for a successful and effective agency. Thank you for your part in making this possible. And finally, thank you to Lisa Welch for suggesting the great quote that started this message.

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