The director of Ramsey County Social Services is resigning from her position, about four months into the job.

Michelle Basham has been named director of Ramsey County Social Services, it was announced Oct. 17, 2023. Basham currently serves as a deputy director for Operations and Partnerships for Vocational Rehabilitation Services at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development She will join Ramsey County on Nov. 13. (Courtesy of Ramsey County)

Ramsey County officials informed employees in an email last week that Social Services Director Michelle Basham would step down on March 18 from running the county’s largest department to accept another position outside of county employment. Her new job was not disclosed in the email.

The department had a budget last year of $117.8 million and 683 full-time positions.

The social services department is arguably the county’s most sensitive to run, given its work with vulnerable families through child protection, licensing, foster care, pre-petition screening for civil commitment, adult protection, mental health, detox, case management and chemical dependency services.

A previous director, Anne Barry, ran social services from June 2019 through mid-2022, departing that August following a three-month leave.

Basham, who has 25 years of experience in human services, joined the county on Nov. 18, having led business management areas within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services. She had previously held leadership positions at YWCAs in Minneapolis and Delaware, FamilyWise, CommonBond Communities, the Bridge for Youth and the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

At the age of 19, she founded Avenues for Youth, the first shelter for homeless youth in Minneapolis. She holds a graduate degree in public administration/business from Hamline University and a law degree from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she serves as an adjunct instructor.

An attempt to reach Basham for comment on Friday was unsuccessful. Her departure follows a period of high turnover within Ramsey County and other agencies, both public and private. Including Barry, at least five of the county’s 25 department directors left their roles in 2022.

After more than a decade with the county, former Ramsey County Manager Ryan O’Connor stepped down this month to take a similar position with the Metropolitan Council, the metro’s regional planning agency.

Tina Curry, who leads the Public Health Career Pathways program, will be named interim Social Services director until a new director is hired, according to the email to staff from Deputy County Manager Kathy Hedin. Human Resources is expected to post a job opening soon.

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