Director's Message

Dec. 22, 2006

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, Director

"Each time someone stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope."

~Robert F. Kennedy

As 2006 comes to a close, this is an appropriate time to reflect on what we've accomplished this past year and the successes we've created.

Our work tends to rush by so quickly that we frequently focus more attention on the daily problems we have to resolve than on what has gone well. But today let's take a few moments to pause and turn our attention to some of the many good things we have achieved in 2006.

No accomplishment during this past year is more important than our budget turnaround. We have reversed what was a multi-million-dollar shortfall in 2005 and are now on track to come in under the amount we had anticipated needing to fill the budget hole.

This is the accomplishment that makes everything else possible. A solid financial management system enables us to improve our services to those who need our help. Everyone who has had a hand in making this turnaround possible deserves our appreciation.

There's not enough time to list all the good things we've done in 2006, so I'll just touch on the following key accomplishments.

The Addictions and Mental Health Division opened the nation's first publicly funded residential gambling treatment facility. Oregon is now the first state to offer a full continuum of care for problem gamblers and their families. AMH also kicked off the Oregon State Hospital replacement project, which eventually will lead to a more community-based mental health treatment system throughout Oregon that will bring care to patients in their home communities.

The Children, Adults and Families Division increased the accuracy rate for issuing food benefits from 87 percent to 95 percent, meaning that more people now receive the correct amount of benefits. This was part of a larger effort to help reduce hunger and food insecurity among Oregonians. Our state now ranks 18th in the nation in food security after having been ranked as the hungriest state for several years.

The Division of Medical Assistance Programs sought and obtained federal approval to expand the number of children who are eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program and to exempt Oregon Health Plan Standard clients with incomes of no more than 10 percent of the federal poverty level from paying monthly premiums. The end result is that several thousand more low-income Oregonians will have access to vital health care insurance.

The Public Health Division implemented a new process for screening infants for several potentially life-threatening disorders. This change will provide test results more quickly and lead to faster treatment. In addition, PHD added cystic fibrosis to the panel of more than 30 diseases and metabolic disorders for which Oregon screens all newborns.

At the other end of the life spectrum, PHD also developed a statewide Electronic Death Registration System that will allow death certificates to be registered within a day or two, rather than the month required by the traditional paper system. This will significantly speed the issuance of death certificates needed by survivors for insurance and estate purposes.

The Seniors and People with Disabilities Division converted all of its disability determination services into an electronic, paperless process, which will make it easier and faster for individuals to apply for benefits. SPD also conducted forums throughout Oregon to solicit input on a long-range plan for delivery of senior and disability services, a crucial step in preparing for the anticipated increase in the population of seniors during the next 20 years.

The Administrative Services Division implemented a new electronic pharmacy system at the Oregon State Hospital campuses that will reduce costs and make it easier to track prescriptions.

As you can see, there's a lot we can take pride in having done. And there are many more accomplishments I haven't listed. This has been a year of hard work and it is paying off. These and other achievements will improve our ability to effectively and efficiently serve Oregonians, and will move us toward more evidence-based and outcomes-focused program delivery.

Next week I'll talk about our goals for 2007 and what's ahead. Until then, stay safe and enjoy the holiday season.

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.