County resource guide
Clearwater County, Minnesota
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Clearwater County. Minnesota statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
15 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Crookston · multi-county
Altru Health System — Developmental Pediatrics (Grand Forks)
Altru Health System in Grand Forks, ND is the nearest comprehensive developmental pediatrics center for Polk County, Minnesota. Autism evaluations, multi-disciplinary assessments, and follow-up coordination available for Crookston-area families crossing the border for specialized care.
Cross-border care — Altru in Grand Forks, ND is approximately 25 miles from Crookston.
Bagley · multi-county
Essentia Health — Bemidji Developmental Services
Essentia Health's Bemidji regional center is the primary hub for developmental pediatrics and autism evaluation referrals from Clearwater County. Telehealth intake reduces the travel burden for families in Bagley and rural Clearwater County.
Bemidji · multi-county
Sanford Health Bemidji — Pediatric Developmental Services
Sanford Health Bemidji is the primary regional medical center for north-central Minnesota, providing pediatric care and developmental referrals for Beltrami County families. Sanford's network reaches families across the greater Bemidji lake-country region and the nearby Red Lake and Leech Lake tribal communities.
Rural northern Minnesota — comprehensive autism evaluations may require travel to Twin Cities or Duluth. Ask about telehealth evaluation options.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Bagley
Clearwater County Schools — Early Childhood Special Education
Clearwater County school districts provide free Early Childhood Special Education services under IDEA for children birth through age 5. Developmental evaluations, IFSPs, and home-based therapy in Bagley and throughout Clearwater County.
FREE under IDEA. Contact your local school district or Clearwater County Social Services.
Bagley · multi-county
Red Lake Nation — Tribal Health Services
Red Lake Nation Tribal Health provides health and developmental services for enrolled tribal members in Clearwater and surrounding counties. Families in the Red Lake service area can access developmental evaluations and early intervention support through the tribal health system.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Bemidji · multi-county
REACH for Resources — Bemidji ABA Services
ABA therapy services for Beltrami County and the Bemidji region. In-home and community-based BCBA-supervised programming. Accepts Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance under Minnesota's ABA mandate. In-home model is particularly important in this rural northern region.
Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA. In-home model is especially practical in rural northern MN.
Mental health
Therapists and psychiatrists experienced with autistic children and adults.
Bagley · multi-county
Lakeland Mental Health Center — Clearwater County
Lakeland Mental Health Center provides outpatient mental health services in Clearwater County including therapy and psychiatric evaluation for individuals with autism and co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Serves Bagley and the surrounding rural area.
Ada · multi-county
Lakeland Mental Health Center — Norman County
Lakeland Mental Health Center serves Norman County with outpatient mental health and behavioral health services for individuals with autism and co-occurring conditions. Therapy and psychiatric support available in Ada with telehealth options.
Crookston · multi-county
Lakeland Mental Health Center — Polk County
Lakeland Mental Health Center provides outpatient mental health and behavioral health services for Polk County including children and adults with autism. Therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and case management available in Crookston.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Bagley · multi-county
Autism Society of Minnesota — Northwest MN Support
Autism Society of Minnesota provides virtual peer support, helpline services, and resource referrals for Clearwater County families. Staff assist with waiver programs, school advocacy, and connecting to regional providers.
FREE helpline. Virtual support essential for northwest MN's geographic isolation.
Crookston · multi-county
Autism Society of Minnesota — Northwest Outreach
Autism Society of Minnesota offers helpline services, virtual peer support, and resource navigation for Polk County families. Assists with finding evaluators, waiver programs, and connecting to the broader Minnesota autism community.
FREE helpline. Virtual support available for rural northwest Minnesota.
St. Paul · multi-county
Autism Society of Minnesota — Rural Outreach
Autism Society of Minnesota provides statewide support including resource navigation, peer support, and family connections. Rural Cass County families can access virtual support groups and one-on-one resource specialists.
FREE. Call the helpline for resource navigation specific to rural northern MN.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Ada · multi-county
Northwest Service Cooperative — Norman County Special Ed
The Northwest Service Cooperative provides special education support and consultation for Norman County districts, assisting with autism evaluations, IEP development, and school programming across northwest Minnesota.
Thief River Falls · multi-county
Northwest Service Cooperative — Special Education
The Northwest Service Cooperative (NWSC) supports Polk County school districts with special education consultation, evaluation, and programming for students with autism. Provides regional support across northwest Minnesota counties.
Bemidji · multi-county
PACER Center — Beltrami County & Northern MN Families
PACER Center, Minnesota's federally funded PTI, provides free IEP advocacy, training, and parent support to families across all 87 counties including Beltrami County. Remote consultations are especially valuable for families in rural northern Minnesota far from metro resources.
FREE. Federally funded — serves all MN counties. Virtual consultations available and especially useful in rural northern MN.
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See all Minnesota resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Minnesota.
Minnesota state guide →