Skip to main content
Gov. Kate Brown has removed acting Oregon Department of Human Services director Jerry Waybrant from his post, following a WW story published today showing that top officials at the state agency turned a blind eye to neglect and financial problems at a Portland foster care provider.
Brown named Waybrant acting DHS director in September, following the departure of Erinn Kelley-Siel from the agency.
Emails WW obtained through a public records request show that both Kelley-Siel and Waybrant, her then-deputy, were well-informed about problems at troubled Portland foster care provider Give Us This Day, and did nothing for more than 18 months before the Oregon Department of Justice forced the organization to close its doors.
Waybrant is returning to his former job as the agency's chief operating officer for self-sufficiency and child welfare programs, according to a message sent to all DHS employees this afternoon.
Here's the statement Brown issued late this afternoon:
Willamette Week