Marie Cervantes is the Director of the Office of Adult Abuse Prevention & Investigations for the Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority. Her leadership of the office supports the DHS/OHA Directors’ overall strategic mission to transform agency operations and service delivery to achieve enterprise-level outcomes for those served by the Department and their communities.
This approach – stating goals, measuring results, and reporting progress to the public – reflects the Department’s commitment to better outcomes for clients and communities. Because many clients have multiple needs, the department is integrating services, seeking to bring a broad range of supports within easy reach of each client or family. This approach, recognized as pioneering in the nation, requires close collaboration among staff within the department and with local governments, service providers and other partners.
Ms. Cervantes has more than 20 years of education and experience in the area of safety and protection of vulnerable adults. She began her career with the DHS in 1994 in the North Bend, Oregon field office and continues to be a passionate champion for vulnerable populations. She has a Bachelor of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice and certificates in Advanced Crime Analysis and American Justice from Portland State University (PSU); an Associates of Applied Science in Social Work from Southwestern Oregon Community College; and is a member of The National Honor Society (PSU Chapter), the Portland State University Criminal Justice Honor Society, the National Adult Protective Services Association and is on the Board of Directors for the National Center for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
