Northern Pines Mental Health Center, PO Box 367, Little Falls, MN (2025)

08/08/2025

BAY LAKE RETREAT CENTER AWARDED NEW AED
The Bay Lake Retreat Center was recently recognized & awarded a new AED as part of the Essentia Health – St. Joseph’s Foundation Take Heart Program. The program provides support for CPR training & AED’s for non-profit organizations. The response time for cardiac emergencies is critical & dramatically improves survivability. “We are very grateful & fortunate to have been selected to be part of this program. The Bay Lake Retreat Center, being on an island, poses a bit of a challenge if a cardiac emergency occurs. The new AED will be placed in the lodge, while the existing AED is in the dining hall.” Says Ivan Bartha, Bay Lake Retreat Center Director.

We will be registering both AED’s with PulsePoint, which is a 911-connected mobile app connected with local EMS. The PulsePoint app allows CPR trained bystanders to see where the closest AED is located when a cardiac emergency occurs. “Having AED’s is great, but it is equally important for our first responders, community members, neighbors and staff to know where they are located to reduce response time.” Bartha said.

Bay Lake Retreat Center is affiliated with Northern Pines Mental Health Center and is engaged in prevention and support for mental health issues.

Photo: Ivan Bartha, Director of the Bay Lake Retreat Center. Colette Fitterer, Take Heart Program Coordinator & Emergency Department RN at St. Joseph’s Hospital

08/04/2025

ANOTHER GREAT CROW WING COUNTY FAIR!
Thank you for stopping at our booth and chatting with us this past week at the fair. It's a great place for us to listen to what you have to say. And the freebies were pretty good this year too!
Happy Summer BLA.

07/24/2025

STOP...RELAX FOR A MINUTE
It's so easy to forget the power of a moment spent regathering and unwinding for just a quick minute. This is evidenced by the fact that it feels so different to watch calming water as opposed to the rush and noise of our day's work.
If we are able to stop and take a moment when we think of it, it's a little form of therapy you can do for yourself.
A nice quick reset.
If you want to discuss more and get in depth we are available to talk things through.
Our lives are spent making lives better.
Call us at (320) 639-2025 to schedule an appointment with our professionals.

07/10/2025

WHY JOIN THE TEAM AT NORTHERN PINES?
Are you passionate about making a difference in moments that matter most? Join our team as a Mental Health Practitioner in a supportive, short-term residential setting designed to help individuals regain stability and wellness. Our crisis stabilization program offers a calm, structured environment where individuals can take a pause, receive compassionate care, and access essential support. You’ll work alongside a dedicated team of professionals committed to providing person-centered services that promote recovery and resilience.

This is a full-time position working weekend, daytime shifts from 7am - 7pm, Saturday - Monday.

Compensation & Benefits include: A starting wage of $25/ hour. Health, Dental, Disability and Life insurance with options for spouse and/ or dependents. Health Savings Account with employer contribution. 401K with employer match. Paid Time Off. Nine additional holidays per year. Bereavement Pay. Travel reimbursement. Northern Pines Mental Health Center is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer.

Check out our careers page for more details! https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=158339&clientkey=A02A60AB080A93F97531C73322654A1C

07/03/2025

LAKES JAM 2025 - A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT!
So we all got a little wet.
We at Northern Pines Mental Health Center want to thank you for all of your great interactions with our team during the festivities at Lakes Jam 2025. We were out in full force giving out some nice freebies away to help reduce stress a bit. We appreciate all the kindness shown to us.
Remember that if you find the need to talk to someone about your current situation or want to gain new control or insights into your thoughts and reactions, we are here to improve lives.
It's our mission to Enhance Lives and Restore Hope. That's why it's been our tag line all these years!
Call us to schedule your appointment to live the life you actually want!

06/27/2025

COME OUT TO THE MORRISON COUNTY FAIR
If you're in the Little Falls area, the Fair is going on now and we'd love to see you!
We have giveaways too.
We want you to know that we are in your Community and we are here to help make lives better. Talking with a qualified professional who will present methods that help people live a more healthy lifestyle is our calling. We have locations in Little Falls and nearby as well. Check out our website for more info at npmh.org.
Here's to living well and having fun!

06/19/2025

MEET OUR PROVIDERS - NANCY SCHAUER
Nancy is one of our bright lights here at Northern Pines. When people love their work, they don't settle. They push towards the ideal of making life better for those they are able to assist. This is Nancy.
If there is something to undertake, Nancy is in 100%. She is a solid advocate for those she works with both staff and clients. There is a constant learning cycle present that focuses her abilities to make that difference with people, evidenced by the continued training and experience she has.
Nancy works out of Pine River-Backus and Pequot Lakes Schools in the Children and Family Program (CTSS).

She reaches kids with that energy to help make things better.
We all do what we can to hold onto that ideal in practice every day. We are so proud to have Nancy on our team since 2013.

There are other great providers like Nancy in schools that we have offices in throughout the 5 county region we serve. We are easy to seek out in these school settings. School can be tough to navigate - remember? That's why we are there to help.

The stigma of mental health discussions is lessening - especially in the schools where it is recognized as a good thing.
If you need someone to talk to or more than that, come see us and start a process that will benefit an entire life!

05/29/2025

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IN SCHOOLS
This is the 1st annual Walker Hackensack Akeley High School Mental Health Awareness Event!
Carrie K, Joseph A, Bridget S, and Alisa B. from Mobile Crisis Outreach (MCO) spend the day running a booth and leading breakout sessions to teach middle and high schoolers about Mental Health, Northern Pines Services and Coping skills.

05/02/2025

LAURA VAUGHN WINS THE PATRIOT AWARD 2025
The Patriot Award is issued from the Secretary of Defense to an individual in an organization who exemplifies support for the Guard and Reserve.

Joseph Meza from our Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCO) nominated Laura because "she is integral to the success of MCO and the mission of the company. Laura is a part of the leadership team but I have always felt that she has an “open door” and I am able to go to her for any questions or concerns."

"I would add that the being a part of the military includes teamwork and problem solving. I believe that my department at MCO is truly a team just as I have experienced through the military. All members have different backgrounds and skills but are working together to meet one goal, enhancing lives and restoring hope."

The Patriot Award on the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves website reads as follows:
"Employer support enhances retention rates in the Armed Forces and, in the end, strengthens our national security. To recognize employers who support their Guard and Reserve employees, ESGR grants a series of Department of Defense awards recognizing supportive employers is vital to ESGR's mission. ESGR's 54 State Committees actively promote awards as a key element in furthering employer support, while strengthening relationships between service members and employers. These Department of Defense awards honor the sacrifices made by so many employers year after year."

04/24/2025

NORTHERN PINES CARE COORDINATORS CONNECT YOU
At Northern Pines Mental Health Center, we know that the best way to support a client is to support the whole person. The Care Coordination Team utilizes a comprehensive approach to recognize and address physical, social, emotional, and economic health for each client with the objective of improving their overall well-being. Think of Care Coordination as a connective tissue between services to close gaps in care and ensure that client needs are met and followed up on. Care Coordinators assist by helping you stay on top of your health, navigate the complicated healthcare system, connect you to services, and collaborate with your providers. If you are an NPMHC client and are interested in how Care Coordination can help you, please call 218-454-3829.
Looking forward to learning how we can support you!
Sincerely,
Sherry, Sara, and Hannah (not pictured)
NPMHC Care Coordination Team

04/18/2025

A GOOD LIFE
If you are interested in starting a path to changes you'd like to make in your life, we are here to help.
We are complex. Answers are not easy to come by.
And as you dig in, you take ownership.
Bring out your best. Take action.
It's not easy. It is Worth It!

04/01/2025

MEET OUR PROVIDERS - JOSEPH MEZA
Joseph is a member of our Mobile Crisis Team working in the Mental Health Urgent Care Clinic at 823 Maple Street in Brainerd, MN.
What an impressive man this is, and he's here for you.
Joseph's calm, cool and collected temperament is well suited to meet the needs of an immediate crisis situation.
Joseph has a number of passions that are lived out daily, none the least of which is his role as a family man. This process of daily care and compassion for his family is easily seen towards others in his role at Northern Pines. Coming from a military background, his trained skill set comes into play for assessing immediate needs, calming the moment by slowing it down and understanding, followed by collaborative input to enact a treatment plan of action right alongside the client.
He is driven to succeed in each case with effective assistance to allow each individual the decision that moves into recovery.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, whatever that means to you, know that we have a team at our Mental Health Urgent Care Clinic that is here to serve you in your time of need. This service to our community is taken most seriously. We want the people in our area to be healthy, safe and full of hope for their future. Joseph does too!

You can call (218) 454-8001 to speak to a member of our Mobile Crisis team. We will come to you or you can come to us at 823 Maple St. in Brainerd.

Be well!

Northern Pines Mental Health Center

08/08/2025

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06/27/2025

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