Oregon Department of Human Services director Clyde Saiki
Courtesy of Oregon DHS
The Oregon Department of Human Services will have a new director this fall. The current head of the agency, Clyde Saiki, is retiring after a three-decade career in state government.
The department manages programs that serve seniors, the disabled, and children in foster care.
Saiki was appointed by the governor to head DHS in 2015 to help fix the state’s problem-ridden foster care system. But that area of DHS continues to struggle.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has appointed Fariborz Pakseresht to replace Saiki. Pakseresht is currently the head of the Oregon Youth Authority. His appointment to head DHS will have to be confirmed by the Oregon Senate.
Saiki's resignation is effective July 1, but he's agreed to stay on in a limited role until Pakserescht takes over in September.
In addition to DHS, Saiki has worked at the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services.