Our View

Our View

No easy task for new DHS director

Well, we’ve heard what Gov. Asa Hutchinson wants done with the troubled Department of Human Services, saw Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin’s recommendations on what needs to be done and now we’re getting a glimpse of what the new director wants done to overhaul the $8.3 billion DHS, the state’s largest and most expensive government-funded agency.

Cindy Gillespie, who once worked as health care adviser to then-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is telling us her first priority will be to review the department’s administrative structure during the next couple of months with intentions of changing things up.

Gillespie took over the problematic DHS from longtime Director John Selig, 55, who announced his retirement in the midst of troubling times for an agency he has been involved with for most of his 27 years in Arkansas state government.

Selig, as most of us are aware of, oversaw the launch of the Medicaid expansion program known as the private option. It was only after costly errors were made in developing an properly functioning computer system to sign up the quarter of million Arkansans dependent upon government subsidies, as well as other developing issues within other areas of DHS that Selig submitted his retirement plans to Hutchinson.

It was then that Hutchinson was authorized to spend several thousands of dollars to hire a private firm to seek out a qualified candidate to replace Selig, and after several interviews with prospects it was decided that Gillespie was the right choice to tackle the multiple challenges.

She says high on top of her priority list is how the department handles contracts, procurement, facilities and finance and wants to consider restructuring the administration with consolidation in mind.

That, she says, will make DHS more efficient and also make better use of the department’s buying power.

Naturally, any changes Gillespie wants to make will have to receive the blessing of Hutchinson as well as lawmakers but says she is confident she can get the support she needs that will correct the issues.

Let us once again point out that this agency is huge and provides state jobs to 7,000 Arkansans who manage aging and adult services; behavioral health services; child care and early childhood education; children and family services; community service and nonprofit support; county operations; developmental disabilities services; medical services; services for the blind; and youth services.

While Gillespie has her own course of direction we have Griffin telling Hutchinson DHS needs to integrate client services saying this an extremely important step to take.

Just the other day, Griffin suggested the state scrap DHS’s “silo-prone divisional structure” and reorganize the agency to integrate the delivery of services and focus on the needs of Arkansans.

Now, how that plays into Gillespie’s scheme of things is anyone’s guess, and we hope she doesn’t get disillusioned in her endeavors by a bunch of political interference from elected officials trying to get involved in something they know little to nothing about.

BIBLE VERSE

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Peter 5:5-11

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