AFSCME union members and others representing Ramsey County workers picketed Tuesday in protest of the county’s proposal to close its Detox and Withdrawal Management Program.

Organized by members with AFSCME Council 5, AFSCME Local 8 and AFSCME Local 151, picketers shared concerns about service privatization, loss of their jobs and loss of access to care as they protested outside the Ramsey County Detoxification Center at 402 University Ave. E. in St Paul.

County officials last month shared their proposed budget for 2026 and 2027 which includes closing the program on Dec. 31 if the budget is approved. The proposed budget also includes the reduction of 43 staff positions.

Those services will then move to community providers, according to county officials.

County officials have said the program has underperformed financially and averages 10 clients a day while its operational capacity allows it to serve 50 people. Moving to community providers is expected to reduce county costs by at least $2 million annually, according to county officials.

County officials also have said the decision came after ensuring that other metro area substance use disorder treatment resources are available.

But union members say county officials did not communicate concerns of underperformance with program workers and that the program’s closure will limit access to detox care in the area. Union members Tuesday also raised concerns with a transition to private providers who they say could choose to turn away the most vulnerable residents that would otherwise turn to county services.

“…There’s no one else in the state besides Clay County that takes everyone when they show up at the door,” said Channa Peters, a nurse supervisor with the detox program. “We do not turn anyone away, whether they can pay or not. The issue with nonprofit organizations is they have the opportunity to say that they won’t take someone and turn them away. And a lot of times, those are the clients that get sent to us.”

Minnesota counties are required to ensure detox services are available to those who need them but aren’t required to run their own facility, according to county officials. Clay County is the only other county in the state that operates its own services.

The county’s program has served an estimated 1,900 clients in 2025 and 1,567 in 2024, according to the county. The average length of stay is 2.1 days with 37 staff at the facility.

Residents will be able to provide feedback on the proposed budget during the county’s next public hearing Dec. 11, before its expected approval on Dec. 16.

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