Director's Message

May 27, 2005

To: DHS employees
From:  Bryan Johnston, Interim DHS Director

Welcome to my first message. This week has passed by very quickly, but there are two subjects I would like to share with you.

Budget update:

I thought I should start my messages with a substantive matter. We are, of course, all concerned over the shape and content of our budget. This Legislative Assembly has created a three-part process for approving budgets. We've completed Phase Two and are scheduled for Phase Three in mid-June.

We are in the process of preparing the very important rebalance of the Governor's recommended budget based on the April rebalance and other factors. We need to have all of our work completed for Phase Three. Right now, the numbers seem to indicate we'll have some challenges.

Our task is not made easier by the split Ways and Means budget process. The paths in the House and in the Senate will require different approaches, and we have to be prepared to do both.

This story is evolving as I write this and I should know much more by next Friday.

My Tenure:

As most of you know, I have been appointed to serve as interim director. That means my assignment is to lead the agency until the Governor chooses the man or woman he wants to assume the director's position. That could mean a short stay of three or four months or a much longer stay.

The approach taken during an interim appointment can range from the quiet placeholder to the more activist executive. In any event, the first responsibility of the interim is to see that the many first-rate initiatives underway at the department continue. I will try, though, to do more than that.

I have identified a short list of my primary goals. The goals are not weighted nor do I list them in order of importance. Four of my goals focus on who we are, and two on what we do. They are:

• Keep up the morale of the DHS workforce.
• Maintain our credibility with the legislature.
• Emphasize the initiative underway to make DHS a "value-driven" organization.
• Prepare the Department for the next director to be successful.
• Emphasize our efforts to protect kids and implement the national review done by the National Resource Center for Child Protective Services (NRCCPS) of Oregon's child safety intervention practices and operations.
• Spotlight the Oregon State Hospital and our efforts to embrace a better future.

We have much to do and I'm here to play a small part in that work. Gary Weeks and the Cabinet have done some very good things for DHS. They have assembled a top-notch staff and launched many excellent efforts. I will do what I can to support people in their work and, as they say, "let the race horses run."

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.

If you have a disability and need this message to be provided to you in another format, please send an email to dhs.forms@state.or.us, or call (503) 947-5107. You can also fax your request to (503) 373-7690, or call (503) 947-5080 for TTY service. If you know of others who need this accommodation, please let them know it is available.