Autism Resources in Judith Basin, Montana

Great Falls · multi-county

Benefis Health System — Child Development Center

Great Falls' primary hospital system providing developmental and behavioral pediatric evaluations. Families in north-central Montana often travel here for autism assessments rather than making the longer drive to Billings or Missoula.

Call to confirm developmental pediatrics availability — rural Montana practices change frequently.

Great Falls · multi-county

Benefis Health System — Developmental Pediatrics

Benefis Health in Great Falls is the primary evaluation hub for Judith Basin County families. Stanford is approximately 65 miles from Great Falls; telehealth appointments available for follow-up care.

Lewistown · multi-county

Central Montana Medical Center — Pediatrics

Lewistown's Central Montana Medical Center is the primary healthcare facility for central Montana's frontier region. Local pediatric specialty capacity is extremely limited; most autism evaluations require travel to Billings (3 hours) or Great Falls (2 hours). Telehealth is the most realistic near-term option for many Fergus County families.

Ask for developmental referral. Most families travel to Billings or Great Falls for autism evaluations. Billings Clinic and Benefis Health both offer telehealth.

Stanford · multi-county

Judith Basin Medical Center — Developmental Referrals

Judith Basin Medical Center in Stanford connects families to Great Falls (Benefis, ~65 miles) or Lewistown (~45 miles) for developmental referrals. Great Falls' Benefis Health is the primary autism evaluation hub for central Montana families.

Lewistown · multi-county

Montana Infants and Toddlers Program — Fergus County

Free IDEA Part C early intervention for children under 3 in Fergus County. Central Montana's frontier character means EI service providers are scarce; families may receive services at home from itinerant providers who travel from Billings or Great Falls.

FREE under IDEA Part C. Fergus County DPHHS coordinates EI. Provider availability is limited — start the referral process as early as possible.

Stanford

Montana Infants and Toddlers Program — Judith Basin County

Free IDEA Part C early intervention for children under 3 in Judith Basin County. EI providers travel from Great Falls or Lewistown. Early referral is essential given the limited local provider pool.

Stanford · multi-county

Autism Society Montana

Autism Society Montana supports Judith Basin County families through peer support and the statewide resource network. Great Falls chapter events (~65 miles) are the most accessible in-person option.

Lewistown · multi-county

Parents Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) — Central Montana

PLUK provides free IEP advocacy and resource support to Fergus County families statewide. For Lewistown families, PLUK is often the single most useful first call — they know the local school system dynamics and statewide resources better than anyone.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. No local Lewistown office — contact main Billings number. Virtual meetings available.

Stanford · multi-county

PLUK — Parents Let's Unite for Kids

PLUK provides free IEP advocacy for Judith Basin County families in Stanford. Phone and virtual consultations serve families in this small agricultural county.