Autism Resources in Liberty, Montana

Great Falls · multi-county

Benefis Health System — Developmental Pediatrics

Benefis Health in Great Falls is the primary evaluation hub for Liberty County families. Chester is approximately 85 miles from Great Falls; telehealth available for many appointments.

Chester · multi-county

Liberty Medical Center — Developmental Referrals

Liberty Medical Center in Chester connects Hi-Line families to Great Falls (Benefis, ~85 miles) or Havre (~55 miles) for developmental referrals. Great Falls' Benefis Health is the primary autism evaluation hub; Havre has Northern Montana Health Care for initial pediatric contact.

Havre · multi-county

Northern Montana Health Care — Pediatrics

Havre's Northern Montana Health Care is the primary healthcare provider for the Hi-Line and northern Montana plains. Local autism evaluation capacity is essentially nonexistent; families travel to Great Falls (2 hours) or Billings (4 hours) for assessments. Telehealth programs through Benefis and Billings Clinic are the most practical option.

Ask for developmental referral to Great Falls (Benefis) or Billings (Billings Clinic). Both offer telehealth evaluations for rural Montana families.

Shelby · multi-county

Toole County District Hospital — Developmental Referrals

Toole County District Hospital in Shelby connects families to Great Falls (Benefis, ~75 miles) for developmental referrals and autism evaluations. Shelby is also close to the Alberta, Canada border — some families access Canadian specialists for certain evaluations.

Havre · multi-county

Montana Infants and Toddlers Program — Hill County

Free IDEA Part C early intervention for children under 3 in Hill County. The Hi-Line is one of Montana's most sparsely served regions; EI providers may travel long distances or deliver services via telehealth. Early referral is critical given limited local capacity.

FREE under IDEA Part C. Hill County DPHHS coordinates EI. Start early — provider scarcity on the Hi-Line means longer wait times.

Chester

Montana Infants and Toddlers Program — Liberty County

Free IDEA Part C early intervention for children under 3 in Liberty County. EI providers travel from Great Falls or Havre. Very limited local provider availability — early referral is critical.

Chester · multi-county

Autism Society Montana

Autism Society Montana supports Liberty County families through virtual peer support. Great Falls chapter events (~85 miles) are the most accessible in-person option from Chester.

Shelby · multi-county

Autism Society Montana

Autism Society Montana supports Toole County families through peer support. Great Falls chapter events (~75 miles south of Shelby) are the most accessible in-person option.

Havre · multi-county

Parents Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) — Hi-Line Outreach

PLUK is Montana's federally funded PTI and serves all Montana families including those on the isolated Hi-Line. For Hill County families, PLUK's phone and virtual support is often the most accessible advocacy resource available without traveling to Great Falls or Billings.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Virtual and phone support available — no local Hi-Line office.

Chester · multi-county

PLUK — Parents Let's Unite for Kids

PLUK provides free IEP advocacy for Liberty County families in Chester. Phone and virtual consultations serve families on Montana's remote Hi-Line.

Shelby · multi-county

PLUK — Parents Let's Unite for Kids

PLUK provides free IEP advocacy for Toole County families in Shelby. Phone and virtual consultations serve families on Montana's Hi-Line.