County resource guide
Autism Resources in Pope, Minnesota
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Pope. Minnesota statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
13 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Benson · multi-county
CentraCare — Benson Clinic Developmental Referral
CentraCare operates a clinic in Benson serving Swift County families with primary care and developmental referrals. Full autism evaluations are routed to CentraCare specialists in Willmar (~35 miles south) or St. Cloud. Swift County is an agricultural prairie county in west-central Minnesota.
CentraCare Willmar (~35 miles south) is the primary evaluation hub for Swift County families.
Alexandria · multi-county
CentraCare — Douglas County Developmental Services
CentraCare Health provides developmental pediatric evaluations and autism referrals through the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria, the largest city in west-central Minnesota's lakes region. Part of the CentraCare network linking to autism specialists in St. Cloud.
CentraCare St. Cloud is the primary autism evaluation hub for west-central MN — about 90 miles from Alexandria.
Morris · multi-county
CentraCare — Stevens Community Medical Center Developmental Referral
Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris is affiliated with the CentraCare network and provides primary care and developmental referrals for Stevens County families. Morris is home to the University of Minnesota Morris, which adds an academic resource dimension. Full autism evaluations route to CentraCare specialists in St. Cloud or Willmar.
University of Minnesota Morris adds academic resources; full autism evaluations route to CentraCare St. Cloud (~100 miles east).
Glenwood · multi-county
CentraCare — West Central Clinic Developmental Referral (Pope County)
Pope County families in Glenwood access developmental and autism evaluation referrals through the CentraCare network, with the Willmar campus (~30 miles south) as the primary regional specialist hub. Glenwood sits on Lake Minnewaska in west-central Minnesota's lake country.
CentraCare Willmar (~30 miles south) is the primary evaluation hub for Pope County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Glenwood
Pope County Early Childhood Special Education
Pope County and the Minnewaska Area Schools provide free Early Childhood Special Education services for children birth through age 5 under IDEA. In-home evaluations and developmental therapy for families in Glenwood and rural Pope County.
FREE under IDEA Part C/B. Contact Pope County or Minnewaska Area Schools to begin.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Benson · multi-county
Fraser — West-Central MN ABA (Swift County)
Fraser provides in-home and telehealth ABA services for Swift County families. BCBA-supervised programming accepting Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance under Minnesota's ABA mandate.
Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Glenwood · multi-county
Fraser — West-Central MN ABA Services (Pope County)
Fraser provides in-home and telehealth ABA services reaching Pope County and west-central Minnesota. BCBA-supervised programming accepting Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance under Minnesota's ABA mandate.
Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Morris · multi-county
Fraser — West-Central MN ABA Services (Stevens County)
Fraser provides in-home and telehealth ABA services reaching Stevens County families. BCBA-supervised programming accepting Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance. University of Minnesota Morris's occupational therapy and education programs can be an additional local resource.
Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA. UM Morris may have additional practicum-level therapy resources.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Glenwood
Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) — Lakes Country (Pope County)
AuSM connects Pope County families in Glenwood to statewide autism support networks and programming. Lake Minnewaska and the west-central Minnesota lake country environment creates a tight-knit rural community that benefits from statewide peer connections.
Contact AuSM for west-central Minnesota resources and nearest support group to Glenwood.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Alexandria · multi-county
PACER Center — Douglas County & West-Central MN
PACER Center, Minnesota's federally funded PTI, provides free IEP advocacy, training, and remote consultation for Douglas County families navigating Alexandria schools and rural west-central Minnesota districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all 87 MN counties.
Glenwood · multi-county
PACER Center — Pope County & West-Central MN
PACER Center, Minnesota's federally funded PTI, provides free IEP advocacy and virtual consultation for Pope County families navigating rural west-central Minnesota school districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all 87 MN counties.
Morris · multi-county
PACER Center — Stevens County & West-Central MN
PACER Center, Minnesota's federally funded PTI, provides free IEP advocacy and virtual consultation for Stevens County families navigating Morris-area and rural west-central Minnesota school districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all 87 MN counties.
Benson · multi-county
PACER Center — Swift County & West-Central MN
PACER Center provides free IEP advocacy and virtual consultation for Swift County families navigating rural west-central Minnesota school districts in Benson and surrounding communities.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all 87 MN counties statewide.
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