Building better human services starts with people

A message from Liesl Wendt, Oregon Department of Human Services Director

What does it take to make human services better for everyone in Oregon? It takes people who are willing to listen, ask questions, challenge old ways of thinking and work together to find better solutions.

This September, I had the privilege of celebrating 36 graduates of the 2025-26 Metro Leadership Class at the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). After months of learning and working together, these employees marked their graduation by presenting leadership projects they had developed to address real challenges and opportunities within our agency. Friends, family and fellow ODHS employees gathered to celebrate their achievements and hear the ideas they are bringing forward.

I left feeling proud of these graduates and hopeful about what they will help us accomplish.

Leadership is about more than a title

At ODHS, leadership is not limited to people with a particular job title. It shows up in how we listen to others, how we respond when things get difficult, how we work across teams and how we make decisions that affect the people we serve.

The Metro Leadership Class gives employees the opportunity to build these skills, learn from experts and colleagues, and form relationships across our agency. Participants explore topics such as communication, inclusion, strategic thinking, management and policy. Just as important, they learn to look at problems from different perspectives and consider how their decisions affect others.

These skills matter because human services work is about people. The individuals and families who come to ODHS deserve services that respect their choices, recognize their strengths and protect their dignity. Our employees deserve a workplace where they feel supported, heard and able to contribute their ideas.

Creating that kind of agency takes all of us. It takes curiosity, empathy and a willingness to keep learning, even when the answers are not easy.

Turning ideas into action

One of the most meaningful parts of graduation was hearing participants present the projects they had developed throughout the program.

These were not just classroom exercises. They grew out of real challenges and opportunities within ODHS. The projects gave participants a chance to think critically, work with others and explore ways to improve how we do our work.

That is exactly the kind of leadership we need.

Making progress does not mean having every answer before we begin. It means being willing to try new approaches, learn from what happens, listen to feedback and make changes when something is not working as well as it could.

It also means recognizing that the people closest to a problem often have valuable insights into how to solve it. The experiences of the people we serve, the knowledge of our frontline employees and the perspectives of our community partners all help us understand what needs to change.

When we bring those voices together, we have a better chance of building services that work for everyone.

I am especially encouraged by the opportunity to put some of these project ideas into practice. Several projects from the program have already been elevated for potential statewide review and possible adoption. That is an exciting reminder that investing in our employees' growth can also help us find new ways to serve Oregonians.

Thank you for choosing to lead

To the 36 graduates of the 2025-26 Metro Leadership Class: thank you.

Thank you for making time to learn and grow while continuing to serve Oregonians. Thank you for bringing your ideas, experiences and different perspectives to this program. Thank you for being willing to ask hard questions, explore new possibilities and take the next step toward making things better.

Most of all, thank you for choosing to lead.

I know that growth takes effort. It takes humility to question what we think we know, courage to speak up when something needs to change and patience to work through challenges with others. Your commitment to that work deserves to be celebrated.

As you move forward, I encourage you to carry what you have learned into your everyday work. Listen with empathy. Build relationships across teams. Use evidence to guide decisions while remembering the human experiences behind the numbers. Invite feedback early and often. And keep looking for ways to make our services clearer, more connected and more responsive to the people who count on us.

You do not have to wait for a new title or the perfect opportunity to make a difference. Every conversation, every decision and every effort to improve how we work can help move ODHS forward.

Putting the human in human services

Our agency has an important responsibility to the people of Oregon. We must continue to learn, adapt and work together to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

That means choosing to be one connected agency, not a collection of separate programs. It means building trust through clear communication, showing up for our employees and communities, and making room for the voices of people whose lives are affected by our decisions.

The Metro Leadership Class is one way we invest in that future. For 25 years, this program has helped ODHS employees build skills, strengthen relationships and think differently about how we serve people. The graduates are part of that legacy, and they will help shape what comes next.

To the graduates, your work matters. The ideas you shared are a starting point, and the leadership you bring to your roles will continue to make a difference long after graduation.

Congratulations on this achievement. I am grateful for your commitment to ODHS and to the people of Oregon. I look forward to seeing what you build, what you improve and how you help us create an agency that puts people at the center of everything we do.

Together, we can make human services better for everyone in Oregon.