social worker

administrative assistant

mental health technician

planner

environmental specialist

Ramsey County, MN

I was super excited when I got hired because I think there could be a lot of growth in this company and necessary skills to have. And it was a permanent, non-temp job. Now I understand why there's such a huge turnaround for Ramsey County! I was placed in Mets (medical assistance) division. You don't get to choose which unit you want. They just place you there. Job is super stressful with unattainable goals for most people. They want you to go through so many resources to find the answer you're seeking and you CANNOT ask for help from managers or coworkers because it would be considered "answer shopping." It's like you're pretty much training yourself and on top of that, you need to process 8 or so cases per hour while researching the answers. Impossible! They give you 9 months probation and if you don't make the cut, you're fired. No support whatsoever. On paper, you might make $19.32 an hour but here's the catch. $600 monthly for family medical/dental insurance and doesn't include vision. Every paycheck of $100 is taken out for your retirement and mandatory and you don't get to opt out of PERA. Parking is also $125 monthly depending where you park if you drive. I was making $19.32 an hour but my net amount was only $14 and I did not qualify for assistance because every sort of assistance (if you need it) take gross amount only and I have honestly never felt so broke in my life! I quit after my 6 months of training because that was the most relaxing period. Once you're on the floor, get ready to be burned out working on a team with no support at all. The pressure is real. Highly do not recommend this work culture. So happy I found a job after that I pay only $95 monthly total for a family medical/dental AND vision plan.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The benefits are amazing, I get medical at a very decent price plus they allow me to keep my MA as a secondary. I haven't had to pay a dime out of pocket for any medical treatment or co-pays. The people there are very friendly and easy to get along with, it's a welcoming environment for everyone. I have learned there in my two years and hope to continue to expand my knowledge as part of a great team to help others. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The few clients that call and just don't know how to nice. We're there to help and we do the best we can. I understand the frustration, we all do but having an attitude isn't going to help anyone. Thankfully we don't experience a lot of that and most people are very nice when they call.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very friendly and welcoming to everyone, there is always someone there that is willing to help other workers and share knowledge to help others workers to learn something they may not know. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Usually it's taking calls from clients to help them to make changes to their cases, address, phone number, updating name changes or other information. I sometimes send out information to clients like renewal packets or other forms they may need, or transferring callers to other depts as needed. We have one day a week where we are on office duties, forwarding returned mail or other office duties as assigned.

Children's crisis was busy, never a day was the same, crisis line was answered 24 hours a day, mostly parents or schools having difficulties with children experiencing mental health and we would schedule intervention/in-home crisis evaluation. On-site psychologist scheduling, maintaining calendars, referrals, sending out information, collecting referral packets, billing, statistical documentation, reporting. Acted as 2nd person in crisis calls. Assisted in shelter placements for children needing shelter placement - removed by child protection/police for abuse/neglect/mental health. This was most difficult part of job, Small staff and this was best part of the job, everyone depended on each other and was their for each other. Excellent use of interns and volunteers. Supervisor is very skilled in mental health and able to guide all. She is extremely talented and also works very hard and long hours.. Hard to get time off as staff is small and no other coverage.  Heavy, intensive issues. Must be well balanced and taking care of self.

Answered incoming calls, transferred calls to the appropriate staffs 300-500 phone calls a day and a fast-paced environment and multitasking with a  positive attitude and delivery of efficient, accurate and caring customer service to our public assistance clients. Help Desk is gathered information with the culturally respectfully work place for client and staff. Provided client with the photo ID and also update the ID to maintain and accurate case record. I have experienced using MAXI and MEC2 computer systems to help clients inform them of their benefits if there is information needed to determine. I have also viewed in MEC2 to view the status of clients' cases such as child care status information that is needed, who child care worker is, and etc. I have successfully used MAXIS to view clients' health care statuses, and to let clients know what health plan they are currently enrolled in. Assist in routine clerical duties Operates manual and electronic mailing equipment previous general office experience. Performs sorting and distribution of incoming and outgoing mail. Order, stock and furnish employees with supplies as need.

A typical day if work usually starts out by preparing for home visits for the day. The day is mostly spent visiting clients in the homes and case management. Management does not trust their workers and micromanages immensely. Management is about building themselves up, and there is no sense of leadership or support. The workplace is very divided. Most caucasian employees are on one team, all asian employees on one team or program, and most african american employees on one team. There really is no moving or advancement, but forced retention on the same team. 
The hardest part about the job is not being able to serve the clients who need the most support. Example: we can only serve 1st or 2nd time pregnant mothers and allow them into these special home visiting programs. Anyone who has more than 2 pregnancies are excluded from the long term home visiting program and may be seen for a short period of time only despite their challenges and needs.
The good thing about this job is it is somewhat flexible and provides autonomy.

What is the best part of working at the company?
the pay is fair, competitive in each job class.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Management doesn't train new hires or department transfers so you are on your own and need to be prepared to jump into the positions feet first and hope you can swim.  Management is not done by individuals who know the department you work in, so  constant job expectations change radically with every supervisor ( I had three supervisors in less than a year one year.  Otherwise it was at least two changes each year).  So, your job will change without explanation or notice.  

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
peers were great even though we were always short staffed.  Management was horrible.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
worked in child protection with clients 10+ hours a day, in person, all over the State of Minnesota.  No pay for overtime.  Schedule was constantly changing with unreal expectations.

It is a hard place to work. The work environment an culture is toxic. There is no support and directors are more concerned with looking good to outsiders than serving the people that keep the county running. Employees are kept in the dark on purpose and decisions are routinely made without thinking of the consequences or without consulting anyone that does the work. Employees are constantly playing catch up because the directors do not make decisions timely and will not delegate any decision making authority to lower level managers. No one is held accountable for doing nothing all day yet others are reprimanded by directors for following instructions from their supervisor. Non-management staff lean on each other which makes the job bearable. The medical and dental benefits are good but expensive for family coverage. Sick and vacation time are generous and supervisors are generally flexible with work hours and taking time off.

This is a not an equitable place to work 
management  fosters and environment that is toxic. 
Supervisors are instructed to target people of color and those with disabilities and those who dare to speak up about unfair practices about injustices they experience or witness. 


Accepting the position at Ramsey County was the worst mistake of my life, if I could only turn back the hands of time. I would not recommend Ramsey County Human Services to my worst enemy.

A typical day at work consist of  coordinating a case with a number of workers such as Guardian at lighten,child's attorney, county attorney, making calls and returning calls. I loved helping people that had difficulty dealing with life issues, most of the clients were in need of financial help, most of there issues generated from just being poor. I enjoyed my co-workers we were like a family. The hardest part of my job was removing a child from there home and taking them to a strangers home where I had to leave them lost and afraid, that was very difficult except in extreme cases where the child is eminent danger.

I learned so much over the 22 years with the County. I worked for many years at the LTC area, I was a Manager of a 60 bed, 13 staff unit, was a nurse in the TLC, Hospice, and my favorite-with the victims of Dementia.
When I wanted a change after 20 years I moved into Public Health Nursing at the ADC, and learned quickly how glad I was to have good assessment skills. 
There were overdoses, suicide attempts, many wounds. What we tried to do is assess and prevent any attempts, screened for TB, gave out medication, set up appropriate housing for each inmate for safety. Triaged for  Medical, dental and Psychiatry on site.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Social worker 9 salaries reported	$43.68 per hour
Administrative assistant 9 salaries reported	$28.78 per hour
Mental health technician 6 salaries reported	$44.32 per hour
Planner 1 salary reported	$46.65 per hour
Environmental specialist 6 salaries reported	$36.34 per hour

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