County resource guide
Lake County, Montana
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Lake County. Montana statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
12 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Kalispell · multi-county
Logan Health — Pediatric Specialty Services
Kalispell Regional Medical Center (now Logan Health) is the primary hospital and specialty care hub for northwest Montana. Pediatric developmental evaluations are available, though capacity is limited and Flathead County families often face significant wait times or travel to Missoula or Seattle.
Formerly Kalispell Regional Healthcare. Ask for pediatric developmental referral. Seattle Children's telehealth programs sometimes serve northwest Montana families.
Polson
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center — Pediatric Referrals
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson provides healthcare for Lake County including the Flathead Lake area and Salish-Kootenai tribal lands. Autism evaluations typically require travel to Missoula (~1 hr) or Kalispell (~40 min). Tribal families may also access evaluation through Tribal Health at the Salish Kootenai College health center.
Tribal families on the Flathead Reservation may access Salish Kootenai Tribal Health for care coordination. Missoula (1 hr) and Kalispell (40 min) are the nearest specialist cities.
Missoula · multi-county
Providence St. Patrick Hospital — Pediatric Services
Western Montana's largest hospital provides pediatric specialty care including developmental evaluations in Missoula. Families from Ravalli, Sanders, Mineral, and Lake counties rely on Missoula for specialist access. Referrals from a primary care physician are typically required.
Call pediatric scheduling for developmental evaluation availability. Waits can be 6–12 months.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Polson
Montana Infants and Toddlers Program — Lake County
Free IDEA Part C early intervention for children under 3 in Lake County. Tribal families on the Flathead Reservation are eligible. Some EI providers serve this area from Missoula or Kalispell. Salish Kootenai Tribal Early Childhood programs may supplement state EI.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Tribal families: Salish Kootenai Tribal Health (406-675-2700) may have supplemental early childhood programs. Lake County DPHHS coordinates EI.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Polson
Montana ABA Telehealth — Lake County
Lake County has no dedicated in-person ABA providers. Telehealth ABA parent coaching is the most accessible option. Tribal families enrolled in Medicaid may also explore Indian Health Service behavioral health. Montana Medicaid covers ABA telehealth statewide.
Montana Medicaid covers ABA telehealth. Tribal families: contact Salish Kootenai Tribal Health at (406) 675-2700 about behavioral health services available through IHS.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Kalispell · multi-county
Northwest Pediatric Therapy (Kalispell)
Occupational and speech therapy services in Kalispell for children with autism and developmental differences. Serves families across northwest Montana who would otherwise travel hours to Missoula for pediatric therapy.
Montana Medicaid accepted. Telehealth available for rural Flathead County communities.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Polson · multi-county
Autism Society Montana
Lake County families access Autism Society Montana's statewide support network. Kalispell events are more accessible than Missoula for most Polson-area families (~40 min). Flathead Valley Autism Network events in Kalispell provide peer support.
Kalispell events (40 min) more accessible than Missoula from Polson. Contact Autism Society Montana for current schedule.
Kalispell · multi-county
Flathead Valley Autism Network
Community-based parent support network for autism families in the Flathead Valley. Connects families with local resources, peer support, and Autism Society of Montana activities in the Kalispell area.
Contact Autism Society of Montana for current contacts and meeting schedule.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Polson · multi-county
Parents Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK)
PLUK provides free IEP advocacy for Lake County families including tribal families in Mission Valley Schools and Polson School District. PLUK understands the intersection of state special education law and tribal education rights.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Tribal families: PLUK can advise on both IDEA rights in public schools and BIE school rights. No local Polson office — contact main number.
Thompson Falls · multi-county
Parents Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK)
PLUK provides free IEP advocacy for Sanders County families including Thompson Falls and Plains school districts. Phone and virtual consultations are the primary service mode for this remote western Montana county.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. No local Thompson Falls office — contact main Billings number. Virtual and phone consultations primary.
Kalispell · multi-county
Parents Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) — Northwest Outreach
PLUK serves Flathead County families with free IEP advocacy, training, and resource navigation. As one of Montana's more populated counties outside Billings, Flathead County families benefit from PLUK outreach and the Montana Autism Education Project (MAEP).
FREE. Federally funded PTI. No permanent Kalispell office — contact main Billings number.
Missoula · multi-county
UM Rural Institute on Disabilities
Based on the University of Montana campus, the Rural Institute is Montana's federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). They provide consultation, training, and referrals — particularly valuable for rural families in western Montana.
Not a direct service provider for families, but an outstanding resource for referrals, training, and systems navigation.
For providers
Be the first featured provider in Lake County
Featured listings include your logo, extended description, a direct contact button, and top placement above standard listings. Families searching for help in Lake County see you first.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it's free →
See all Montana resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Montana.
Montana state guide →