This editorial appears in the June 6, 2009, Yakima Herald-Republic.

We've heard far too often the phrase "too big to fail" applied to financial institutions and most recently to General Motors as the Detroit carmaker enters into the next phase of its corporate downsizing -- bankruptcy.

This same phrase can also be applied the state's largest institution, but in this case it needs to be flipped on its head. We would argue the state's Department of Social and Health Services is "too big to succeed."

Proof of this comes in the form of another less-than-flattering audit covering some of its programs. The 31-page report details failed controls to prevent misappropriation of funds and a lack of monitoring systems to ensure contracts are properly followed.

The audit detailed total dollar losses at less than $400,000 -- which in the scope of spending at the behemoth department are not that alarming. DSHS accounts for about a third of the state's total operating budget that now tops $35 billion.

Altogether, taxpayers cover some $10 billion a year in expenses at DSHS, with the federal government accounting for another $10 billion. Each year more than 2.1 million children, families and seniors seek protection, food assistance, financial aid, medical care and other services. One in three residents of the state are touched by DSHS in some way through more than a dozen social service programs.

Why has the agency become so mammoth? It dates back to the days of Gov. Dan Evans, our last three-term governor, who in 1970 created the agency as a one-stop center for social services. Over the years, it has grown far too fast and has become increasingly cumbersome with its outdated computer systems and overwhelmed caseworkers.

Lately, the agency has been beset by a series of costly lawsuits and settlements that continue to invite pointed criticism. Just last month DSHS agreed to pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit brought by two women who claimed they suffered years of physical and sexual abuse as children in a foster home while the agency did nothing to protect them.

And that follows an $11 million settlement last year by Seattle, Tacoma and DSHS for failing to halt the sexual abuse by a foster father who had posted explicit pictures of the abuse on the Internet. Add that to a $6.2 million jury verdict in 2007 on behalf of four siblings who were victims of an abusive Seattle foster mother and you end up with a disturbing pattern of failed oversight.

The Legislature has made repeated attempts to break up DSHS. This year was no exception when Rep. Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, floated a measure that would have eliminated the agency within two years and divide the functions among four smaller agencies.

Few doubted the bill would gain any support, but it did. Some 16 Democrats joined 17 Republicans in sponsoring the measure that eventually sailed through the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee on a unanimous vote. Then it hit the proverbial brick wall in the full House, where it never came up for a vote.

We would suggest that Armstrong and others roll up their sleeves right now and get to work on framing a stronger measure that would appeal to more lawmakers. Let's banner this effort under the heading: "What I did during my summer vacation."

The time is ripe for DSHS -- the General Motors of social service agencies -- to get "right-sized."

This would, no doubt, disappoint the newest secretary of DSHS, Susan Dreyfus, a Wisconsin executive. The governor appointed Dreyfus only last month, making her the 21st secretary since the agency's inception 39 years ago.

That averages to about a new secretary every 22 months. Not much time to develop a culture of continuity. During that same period, only seven governors have held office.

So add one more serious flaw to the way DSHS handles its affairs -- too many new faces heading a bureaucracy that has seen far too little change.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.