Birch Tree Center
4730 Matterhorn Circle
Duluth, MN 55811
St. Louis County
Phone: (218) 623-1800
Fax: (218) 623-1811
Contact us with questions or submit a referral here.
Download the Birch Tree Center Referral Packet here
Birch Tree Center provides residential crisis stabilization to adults experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency. This includes programming designed to enhance psychiatric stability, personal and emotional adjustment, and the necessary skills to return to a more independent setting.
Birch Tree Center provides short-term and recovery focused services. Our caring, highly-trained professional staff can help you:
Talk about your struggles with someone who understands and is focused on your healing
Gain tools to better cope with life's stresses
Reduce your emotional pain
Get respectful, professional medical treatment
Determine your inner strengths
Connect with friends that support your recovery
Avoid unnecessary hospitalization and loss of independent living
Develop a personalized plan for health and wellness
The Birch Tree Center also provides the following services:
Psychiatric medication management
Crisis assessment, support and intervention
24-Hour nursing care
Medication administration, management and monitoring
Short-term problem solving and rehabilitative services
Discharge/aftercare planning with referrals to further aftercare treatment
Symptom management and relapse prevention
Recovery focused care
Family support
Individuals admitted to Birch Tree Center work with a mental health professional, or practitioner on a daily basis. Groups are provided to include psycho-education, symptom management, coping strategies and stress relief, etc. Contact is made with all existing providers, agencies and organizations involved in the treatment. Family, or other specific providers are facilitated to assist the individual in transitioning back to the community as soon as possible. The services are short-term and recovery focused.
Birch Tree Center staff members include licensed psychiatric practitioner and licensed therapists:
Shaquela Christopher - Program Director
Jessica Johnson: PMHNP-BC - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Treatment Director/Psychiatric Medical Professional
Russel Hughes: PMHNP-BC - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Frequently Asked Questions about Birch Tree Center
Who comes to birch tree center?
Birch Tree Center is an accredited, non-religious, residential mental health center where adults in crisis go to find stability. We assist individuals that may feel alone, lost, overwhelmed, or hopeless. Birch Tree Center supports all individuals regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and socio-economic class.
What is the criteria for admission to Birch Tree Center?
You must be 18 years of age or older and have significant behavioral health symptoms, which require acute inpatient services.
Have safety needs which cannot be adequately met in the community.
Have completed a crisis assessment by a licensed clinician, mobile crisis team staff, or emergency room physician for review by Birch Tree Center staff.
Have been determined to be able to care for one's own medical and personal care needs. Must be capable of self- preservation and ambulatory.
What services and programs are available at Birch Tree Center?
Birch Tree Center staff will meet with you on an individual basis to begin developing your recovery plan. Groups are offered with the opportunity to focus on topics such as symptom management and relapse prevention. Other services include crisis assessment, psychiatric medical assessment, 24-hour nursing care, medication administration, management and monitoring, rehabilitative services, discharge planning with referral to aftercare services and treatment.
What are the accommodations like? Will I have a private room?
Birch Tree Center offers a peaceful, healing environment with individual private rooms and comfortable common areas for meeting with your family, friends and others.
Do I need to bring my own medications?
Whether or not your medications are readily available to take with you to Birch Tree Center, a nurse is on staff 24-hours per day to coordinate medication needs with your prescribing psychiatrist or physician.
How is the cost of care covered?
Birch Tree Center works with your insurance provider whether private, Medical Assistance, or a public health plan to determine payment for services. Birch Tree Center assists with application thru MN Sure if needed, and seeks grants and other funding sources to address cost of care.