Contact us Monday through Friday 8:00am CST to 4:00pm CST at 715-327-4402

Carey Lillehaug

Carey Lillehaug

Admissions Director

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Recreation | Relationships

      

PROFILE

Carey has been dedicated to the care and betterment of children in every role she has played during her career at Northwest Passage. As Admissions Director for Northwest Passage she draws on that experience counseling and aiding parents, children, and staff in the efforts of providing care for our clients in residential treatment. Her long standing background in mental health services, her detailed knowledge of the Northwest services and system, and her understanding of the inner workings of private insurance benefits have both made her a great fit for this role and provided her with her dream job.

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Admissions
  • Education: MSW; BA, Criminal Justice and English
  • With Northwest Passage since 1993
 

Rob Lillehaug

Rob Lillehaug

Admissions Director

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Relationships | Nature | Recreation

“Being outside and active is a huge part of my life, but central to it all is my family and the satisfaction those relationships bring to my life.”

       

 

PROFILE

“I have found that in my twenty-five years of working at Northwest Passage, building healthy relationships with the kids and families we work with is still the most important aspect of treatment.”

As an Admissions Director, Rob is a resource for social workers, schools, outpatient providers, and families as they make the difficult decision of how to get a child the help they need to thrive. He values the relationships he has built with county human health services to discuss programming and how Northwest Passage can most effectively meet their needs. He brings over 25 years of experience in working with youth and their families and enjoys assisting them as they enter residential treatment.

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Relationship Building,
  • Education: BA, Criminal Justice
  • With Northwest Passage since 1993
 

Susan McNutt

Susan McNutt

Human Resources Specialist

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Recreation | Relaxation | Nutrition | Exercise | Relationships | Service | Spirit

Coming Soon…

            

QUOTE

Coming Soon…

DETAILS

  • Education:
  • With Northwest Passage since 2012
 

Anna Pearson, CSW

Anna Pearson, CSW

Human Resources Manager

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Relationships | Relaxation

“I love spending time outside and spending quality time with family and friends. A couple of my favorite activities include playing outside with my kids and enjoying good company around a bonfire. Relaxation plays an important role in my life: I practice yoga, find moments for mindfulness and deep breathing throughout the day, and follow a routine for winding down at the end of every day. I feel my best when I take time to balance elements of the PassageWay in my daily life. I find myself feeling calmer, happier, and more resilient. The PassageWay is an easy and accessible way to talk about how we can all engage in a healthier lifestyle.”

   

PROFILE

Anna has greatly enjoyed the clinical exposure she has had in working with diverse clients who are in need of comprehensive evaluations. Anna is also involved in community-based emergency mental health services, and is a member of the Risk Review Committee for the Northwest Journey day treatment programs.

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Social Services
  • Education: BA, Social Work
  • With Northwest Passage since 2009
 

Ellen Race, MSW

Ellen Race, MSW

Program Director

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Recreation | Service | Relationships

“I firmly believe that life is about the connection we make with others. The relationships in my life – with my family, friends, and colleagues are critical to having joy and support in my life.”

PROFILE

Ellen completed an internship with Northwest Passage in 2000, and then went on to work as a hospice social worker. In late 2001, Ellen was asked to return to Northwest Passage as a case manager for the 30-day assessment program.  For Ellen, it was a very easy decision to return to her “professional home” and an honor to come back and work in an agency whose mission to address the individual needs of each child is in line with her personal values. Ellen now serves as the Program Director for the Northwest Passage Assessment Center and Northwest Passage Prairieview. She enjoys the challenges of creating a therapeutic environment for youth and staff by incorporating individual strengths into therapeutic programming.

“I strive to support programming that is innovative and creative. By the time kids reach us, they have often “failed” and my passion is to create a program that helps kids succeed in their own way!”

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Clinical Social Work
  • Education: MSW UW-Madison 2014; BS Social Work, UW-Eau Claire 2000
  • With Northwest Passage since 2000

Jeff Raschke

Jeff Raschke

IT Director

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Recreation | Relaxation | Nutrition | Exercise | Relationships | Service | Spirit

Coming Soon…

            

QUOTE

“I started with Northwest Passage years ago because I believed in their mission and saw that they were making a difference in the lives of kids. I worked in different positions and found my spot in the IT department. I work every day to make sure that everyone has access to the information that they need to successfully accomplish our mission.”

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Information Technology
  • Education: BA, Sociology
  • With Northwest Passage since 1993
 

Ashley Van Thomme, CSW

Ashley Van Thomme, CSW

Admissions Director

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Recreation | Exercise | Relationships

Relationships – I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and creating a support network; Exercise – is one of my favorite forms of self-care. Exercising makes me feel good and is a good way to de-stress; Recreation – Engaging in activities I enjoy is another way I engage in self-care – baking, playing games with my children, and reading are some of my favorite recreational activities.”

    

PROFILE

Ashley completed her social work education in 2011 with an internship through Northwest Passage. During her internship, Ashley developed a passion for working with children and adolescents in the mental health field. She loved the philosophy of the company and enjoyed the work that Northwest Passage does. Upon completion of her internship, Ashley joined the Northwest team as a case manager for the Northwest Passage Child and Adolescent Center program. She jumped at the opportunity to continue working, growing, and learning with Northwest Passage and the clients they serve. Ashley now works as a case manager and aftercare coordinator for the Northwest Passage Prairieview program, where she enjoys being able to see and be a part of the progress and growth of the young ladies in the program. Ashley enjoys working in a team setting and appreciates the opportunity to grow and learn something new each day. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys spending time outdoors, being active, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Case Management
  • Education: BS, Social Work
  • With Northwest Passage since 2011
 

Reid Van Thomme

Reid Van Thomme

Information Technology

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Recreation | Relaxation | Nutrition | Exercise | Relationships | Service | Spirit

Coming Soon…

            

QUOTE

“It has been great developing relationships with the kids that have been through our program. Seeing a positive change in the kids behaviors, attitude, and interactions is the most rewarding part by far.”

 

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Expressive Arts and Outdoor Education
  • Education: Corrections/Law Enforcement
  • With Northwest Passage since 2010
 

Louise Wilson

Louise Wilson

Accounting/Payroll Specialist

Your Favorite PassageWay Elements

Nature | Nutrition | Exercise

“Being happy!”

  

PROFILE

“Hope means that anything is possible if you believe in yourself!”

DETAILS

  • Specialty: Numbers
  • Education: Certificate; Accounting
  • With Northwest Passage since 1998
 

Kira Yanko, MA, LPC, ICS

Kira Yanko, MA, LPC, ICS

Program Director

Favorite PassageWay Elements

Recreation | Relaxation | Relationships

“The most important “things” in my life are my people, my relationships. They give me fuel, comfort, joy, and a feeling of home wherever I am. They truly are my driving purpose. And they also give me stress!!! So it is imperative to me that I fill as much time with fun and laughter, and balance this with time to unwind, self-reflect, and relax.”

    

QUOTE

“Hope is the ability to discover beauty in the face of adversity and to see even a spark of light when surrounded by darkness. It is the cornerstone of resiliency and a necessary asset if one is to trust in the unspoken promises of tomorrow.”

DETAILS

  • Education: Villanova: BA Psychology – 2004; Boston University School of Medicine: MA Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine -2006
  • With Northwest Passage since 2020
 

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