Director's Message

August 18, 2006

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, Director

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."
~Steve Jobs

Yesterday was the official grand opening of Oregon's first residential gambling treatment center. The opening of this facility showcased the culture of innovation that exists within DHS, and which goes such a long way toward helping provide Oregonians with the services they need.

Once again, DHS stands out as a national leader:

• This facility is the West Coast's only state-funded, 30-day residential treatment center specifically designed for -- and treating -- only pathological gamblers.
  
  
• The facility is funded through Oregon Lottery revenues, which subsidize the cost of treatment and allow us to offer the program to many individuals who otherwise could not afford this level of help.
  
  
• The facility is operated through a partnership that includes DHS, Marion County and Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, allowing us to use a cooperative approach to providing this valuable service.

As a state, we already offered one of the most comprehensive gambling treatment programs in the nation -- 27 outpatient treatment clinics, two short-term crisis/respite centers and a home-study program. Now we can complete the range of treatment options with this inpatient treatment center.

The genesis for this idea came six years ago, when Jeff Marotta, Problem Gambling Services manager, participated in a strategic planning process with the stakeholders of problem gambling services in Oregon.

The plan that arose from the process was to apply a public health philosophy -- incorporating a stepped-care approach to treatment -- to gambling addictions. Within a stepped-care approach, clients enter the system at the lowest level of treatment intensity and step up to a higher level of treatment if needed. The greatest level of treatment intensity in this approach is longer-term residential care.

Once funding was secured through Oregon Lottery dollars, the plan began to take shape and became a reality this week. The innovative idea of using a stepped-care approach to problem gambling was the driving force behind creating this new residential treatment opportunity for problem gamblers.

I am immensely pleased when I see our staff look for ways to improve the services we deliver to Oregonians. As is true for any organization, our employees -- you -- are the reason we succeed or fail. DHS succeeds when we infuse creativity throughout our culture.

I know it can be a challenge, given the constant press of daily work, to think beyond the current methods of delivering services, but I encourage you to do just that. Keep seeking new and more effective ways of delivering services, researching and testing new treatment methods, developing partnerships, and sharing your many good ideas with others. Keep being leaders.

The good work you do will help DHS stay in the forefront of providing excellent services to Oregonians.

The facility is located at 3321 Harold Dr. NE, Salem, OR 97305. The telephone number is 503-399-5597. For more information, e-mail Sharon Williams at williamss@cascadiabhc.org 

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.