More Bad News for Oregon DHS: $60 Million Lawsuit, Officials Fired

Clyde Saiki, the director of the much-beleaguered Oregon Department of Human Services, has fired two top officials of the department's child welfare division.

"We have to improve our systems, processes and culture to ensure that safety always comes first," Saiki said.

"Our mission is to assist Oregonians in achieving safety, health and independence -- and in some areas we have lost that focus," 

Jerry Waybrant, who oversaw child welfare programs as chief operating officer and Lois Day, the current child welfare director, were fired three days after Governor Brown made Saiki the official director of the agency.

DHS has been under unrelenting attack since a series of media reports last year showed how the department had let a foster care agency remain open for years despite complaints.

There is also a federal investigation into financial oversight.

Also Friday, the department was hit by a $60 million lawsuit charging officials allowed two children under their supervision to endure severe starvation.

According to the suit, the children - who were placed in the home in 2012 - were "physically, mentally, and emotionally abused."

The children, who were eventually removed, were even hospitalized.

The suit charges that the DHS removed two other kids from the foster home based on allegations of abuse, they left these children there. And, as a result, the abuse continued.

A state investigation into the situation backs up many of the claims in the suit.

The husband and wife team who ran the foster home were eventually arrested. A trial date has not been set.