Workers from the Stabilization and Crisis Unit (SACU), represented by Oregon AFSCME Local 1264, have announced a vote of no confidence against Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Director Fariborz Pakseresht.
SACU provides essential care to Oregon’s most vulnerable individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. This unprecedented action comes in response to what SACU employees describe as critical failures in leadership that have led to severe financial mismanagement within ODHS. Under Pakseresht’s leadership, SACU is now facing the closure of two residential homes that serve this population. Employees fear additional closures may follow, jeopardizing critical behavioral health services across the state.
Dr. Sethi, a Staff Psychiatrist at the Oregon State Hospital and President of AFSCME local 3327 has said that “SACU remaining open at 100% capacity is critical in serving Oregon’s vulnerable DD/ID and mental health population. Closing SACU, in whole or in part, could have detrimental effects on our community. We need every residential bed in the community. This is the wrong time to be closing any beds as the patients would likely end up in the already overloaded emergency rooms, community psychiatric units and then possibly at the Oregon State Hospital.”
Jered Schlunegger, a Juvenile Parole and Probation Officer at the Oregon Youth Authority in Multnomah County, and the President of AFSCME Local 191 commented “Let’s be clear, closing SACU or reducing their service capacity reduces crisis support our community critically needs. It impacts all of us.”
SACU employees believe Director Pakseresht’s failed leadership has led to the closures of two residential crisis behavioral homes, and could lead to more, having a critical impact on the community.
“The lack of oversight and care for SACU by Director Pakseresht for the last several years has led to a growing staffing crisis, and now a budget deficit that is going to harm the individuals we serve,” says Christina Sydenstricker Brown, President of Local 1264 and a longtime SACU worker. “These closures could have been avoided if leadership had taken action when concerns were first raised.”
Despite a number of red flags that have been pointed out by employees in the past two years, SACU workers say Pakseresht has refused to take meaningful steps to stabilize the agency’s budget or restore SACU’s operational capacity. These workers believe that ODHS requires new leadership to rebuild trust, stabilize its financial position, and ensure that the needs of Oregon’s most vulnerable populations are prioritized.
“SACU workers are standing up not only for themselves but for the individuals and families who rely on them,” says Oregon AFSCME Executive Director Joe Baessler. “This vote of no confidence sends a clear message: ODHS needs a leader who is committed to transparency, accountability, and collaboration.”
The in-person vote will begin on Saturday, November 23, and conclude on Sunday, December 1. Ballots will be counted on Monday, December 2.
