Sophia Thompson has been named director of Ramsey County Social Services
Sophia Thompson has been named director of Ramsey County Social Services after serving as the Deputy Director overseeing the department’s Mental Health division since May 2021.
As Deputy Director, Thompson maintained service alignment and effective operations within the county’s mental health and adult support services and responded to the need for alternative ways to support the wellness of residents. She used innovation, community voice and partnerships to ensure services are co-designed and provided in ways that reach those who need them most. Her team’s work helped center community and wellness in justice system transformation and piloted the embedded social worker model to co-respond with public safety for the most appropriate response to mental health crises. Her appointment as permanent director is effective July 1.
Just last month, Thompson became the recipient of the National Association of Social Workers Minnesota Chapter - Social Worker of the Year Award, which honors a member of the National Association of Social Workers who exemplifies the best of the profession’s values and achievements through specific accomplishments.
“Sophia has been a powerful member of our department for more than 15 years,” said Health and Wellness Deputy County Manager Kathy Hedin. “Her hands-on experience working with underrepresented communities, her proven leadership skills at the county and her continued passion for this important work make her the ideal person to lead this department.”
Thompson first joined the Ramsey County Social Services Department in 2008 as a senior child protection worker. She went on to supervise a child protection unit in 2015 and became adult support manager in 2020. She received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota.
Social Services is the Ramsey County authority for mental health services and adult protection and is responsible for helping the county’s residents, families, and communities survive and thrive. The department provides critical social service supports, including child protection, licensing, foster care connections, pre-petition screening for civil commitment, adult protection, mental health, detox, case management, prevention and chemical dependency services.