Early Support Can Change a Child’s Path
Research finds that half of all mental illnesses, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders, start by age 14. Left untreated, these conditions can lead to higher rates of school dropout, family conflict, juvenile justice involvement, chemical dependency, and unintentional injury. Catching a struggle early and treating it in a place where a child already feels comfortable changes that path.
Lee Carlson Center’s children and adolescent mental health services support children starting at age 6 through their school years, working directly with students, families, and school staff to identify concerns early and remove the barriers that keep children from getting the appropriate mental health services that can help them grow and succeed.
Ready to Get Started?
Referrals for the program come through parents, principals, student assistance teams, school social workers or counselors. All services are provided in a confidential manner with engaged family involvement.
To learn more about our School-Based Mental Health Program or to schedule an intake:
- Call us at 763.780.3036
- Or fill out the Online Form on our Contact Page
Why Families Choose Lee Carlson Center
Therapy is not just for a crisis. Many families reach out the same way they would schedule a checkup, before things feel urgent, to help a child build coping skills, work through a hard transition, or simply have consistent support in place. We treat mental health as regular maintenance, not an emergency room.
We also work to remove the barriers that keep families from starting. We accept most major insurance plans, including HealthPartners, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UCare, Medical Assistance (Medicaid), and Medicare. Families without insurance can use our income-based sliding fee scale, and a missed appointment will never get a family dismissed from care. We are one of only two county-funded sliding-scale providers in the region, so cost does not have to be the reason a child goes without support.
For busy families, Lee Carlson Center’s telehealth option makes children and adolescent mental health support convenient. The same licensed therapists from our Fridley facility are available by video, so a student can meet with their therapist from home, and families in communities without a nearby provider still have a path to consistent, private care.
A Partnership Model, Not a Waiting List
Our current in-school program with Paladin Charter School is built on a close partnership in which a Lee Carlson Center therapist works directly within the school community. That closeness is the point. Adolescent-aged students see a familiar, trusted adult rather than an unfamiliar name that can work with them and their parents/guardians in the school environment, in-person at Lee Carlson Center, or through telehealth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Children and Adolescent Mental Health
What age does Children and Adolescent Mental Health support start? We work with children starting at age 6 through their school years.
Does my child’s school need a partnership with Lee Carlson Center to get help? No. Families outside a current school partnership can still access care through telehealth, with the same licensed therapists.
Will my child’s teachers know what we talk about in therapy? Sessions are confidential. Information is only shared with the school as needed to coordinate care, and always with consent, permission, and family involvement.
How do we get started? Call us at 763.780.3036 or fill out the form on our Contact Page. A parent, principal, counselor, or school team can also start a referral on a family’s behalf.
Prospective Clients
If you are are prospective client at Lee Carlson Center, please fill out our short questionnaire so that we can be sure to meet your needs effectively. The questionnaire will only take a few moments to complete.
Prospective Client Questionnaire
