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Saito will help lead DHS integration By JONEL ALECCIA Within two weeks, the wire fence outside Ida Saito's Medford welfare office will come down, offering one of the only visible signs of sweeping change in state and local social services. The fence now separates local branches of state agencies that provide welfare and child protective services. But come Sept. 1, the agencies are set to merge, part of an overhaul of the state Department of Human Services. When they join, the changes will be far more than cosmetic, says Saito, who has been tapped to lead the effort in Jackson and Josephine counties. "Figuratively, we'll tear down some walls," said Saito, who formerly directed Adult and Family Services in the two counties. "We'll find new ways to partner with each other and cluster our staffs. I've heard some people say 'It's about time.' " Saito, 48, is one of 16 managers named Thursday to lead regional field operations in the revamped DHS agency. She'll be among the first in the state to implement an integration plan that aims to provide 40,000 local and 900,000 state clients with one-stop social services. Locally, she'll supervise some 400 employees who staff programs providing welfare and child protective services, drug treatment, vocational rehabilitation and programs for seniors and the disabled. Some 75 managers vied for the posts, but local human services experts say Saito was the obvious choice for Southern Oregon. "She's a top-flight manager. She has a level-headedness about her that makes her a superb choice," said Hank Collins, Jackson County health director and a longtime proponent of service integration. "In all the years I've worked with her, I've never seen her really get riled." Not that she hasn't had reason. Saito, who lives in Grants Pass, has spent 24 years managing local welfare services. She was tapped as area director in 1999; before that she was assistant AFS director for the local region. Her tenure has included plenty of contentious issues, including federal mandates to move people from welfare to work. Throughout that time, providing comprehensive services that meet people's short- and long-term needs has been a priority, Saito said. "We want to make it so that when people walk in the door, they're not told, 'We don't do that here,' " Saito said. The notion of integrating services has long been embraced in Jackson and Josephine counties, which are considered models in the state and the nation. That gives Saito a leg up on other regional managers, but there's room for improvement, she said. "We have pockets where we do (integration) really well," Saito said. "But it's still rare." One of the first challenges facing Saito is becoming familiar with agencies other than AFS. "I have a lot to learn about the child welfare system," admits Saito, who already has begun working to increase her knowledge. "She came to one of our morning staffings and her eyes were a little wide," said Shaun Brink, branch manager for Child Protective Services in Josephine County. "She's been very willing to ask questions. She's not shy about getting it right." Brink praised Saito as an active collaborator who was committed to the concept of integration long before it became a state buzzword. "She's always been so respectful of people. She has respected people's skills no matter where they were, whatever agency they worked for." Not all front-line workers are familiar with Saito. Gretchen Thiel, a consultant, educator and trainer with nearly 20 years of experience in child welfare cases, said she's looking forward to learning more about the new regional manager. At the same time, she and other workers worry about how those posts were filled. Of the 16 managers named Thursday, 10 come from AFS backgrounds. Some workers worry that the culture of one agency will dominate the others. "I just don't want the other agencies to become invisible," Thiel said. Since the DHS overhaul was announced early this year, some workers have worried that it would create a sprawling bureaucracy of generalists. Saito said she hopes to ease those fears and inspire employees to embrace integration as the best way to serve people. "I'm not so naive to think there won't be resistance," Saito said, adding later, "I will certainly draw on resources that are enthusiastic." Supervising the way that the two counties serve their most vulnerable residents is a formidable task, Saito said. Assistant managers and program managers will be named shortly to help, but it's up to Saito to make sure the Southern Oregon region smoothes the path to resources. "I go from the spectrum of emotions between being really excited and really panicked," Saito said. "It's going to be a bit chaotic, but what people should begin to see are better services." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.