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New Leaf opens to offer mental health support

The Hibbing Daily Tribune
Apr 23, 2017

A new short-term facility will open soon in the Itasca County area with the intent to bridge a gap for those suffering from a mental health crisis.

New Leaf Healing Center is located near Stevens Creek in rural Cohasset and according to Lynn Cochran, program director with First Call for Help, the facility will fill a need for those in a mental health crisis who need assistance but don't require hospitalization.

"Our goal is to offer support," Cochran said. "To find them help...to connect people to resources, to help them feel hopeful."

The facility, which has room to house six adults, 18 or older, for up to approximately 10 days, is scheduled to open May 15. It will offer supervised adult crisis residential stabilization services which includes a team approach, support and cultural-integrated support.

The center was formerly a single-family home which First Call For Help was able to acquire in August 2016 through a Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) grant.

The state is urging community-based settings for services, Cochran explained.

Since taking possession of the home, she said First Call For Help has modified the house to bring it to code for use as a facility and has gone through the process to obtain proper licensing through DHS.

Currently, they are in the process of hiring staff, Cochran said.

New Leaf will be staffed around the clock, she explained. Staff will provide assessments of immediate needs and assist clients to identify triggers or stressors which may have led to the mental health crisis. Staff will also collaborate with nursing staff and psychiatric providers in serving clients.

"Crisis stabilization services provide a safe, supportive environment and staff for an individual to return to baseline after a crisis," Cochran said. "Services will include an immediate needs assessment, identifying the factors that lead to the crisis, treatment planning, supportive counseling, skills training, discharge planning and collaboration with family and other service providers."

The stay for the client will depend on the situation, Cochran continued. Once the client has left New Leaf, staff will follow up to make sure the client is making it to follow-up appointments and dealing properly with stressors and medications.

"We want to make sure they're OK," she said.

One component of New Leaf's offerings is cultural. Jim Jerome, New Leaf's cultural liaison from Leech Lake, explained that in his years working in child protection services at Leech Lake, there was a struggle with cultural issues.

There were few programs which focused on the spiritual needs of Native Americans in getting healthy, Jerome said.

Spiritual and cultural support will include a sweat lodge, sacred fire, a prayer circle and smudging, they both explained.

Treating mental health matters includes a spiritual component, Cochran said. The client, however, makes the decision whether or not the spiritual component will be addressed.

We're not pressuring, just offering, she said.

The setting of New Leaf itself should also be therapeutic to clients. Tucked back in a serene, quiet area, New Leaf gives off a peaceful, calm aura.

The option to stay at New Leaf is voluntary, the client has to want to be here, Cochran said, This is an alternative option to hospitalization.

New Leaf Healing Center will be hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on Tuesday, April 25. The center is located at 39486 Stevens Creek Road in Cohasset. To get to the center, from Highway 2 West, take County Road 88 West (Bass Lake Road) for approximately one mile to the T, turn right, in one-half mile turn left on 240 Malbay Road, then go one mile to Stevens Creek Road on the right.

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