About Us

Washburn Center is responding to skyrocketing emotional needs and the ever-growing complex demands of the nationwide children’s mental health crisis.

Learn more about:

Our EDI journey Our agency Our leaders The Washburn Difference Partner with us Renting space

We’re glad you’re here.

The mental health care kids receive at Washburn Center for Children is a safety net. Community-based mental health care is for all kids and families who need us, period.

It’s what makes us unique.

We are 100% centered on children across a continuum of care – meeting them where they are developmentally. We work to reduce barriers to care and meet families where they are — socially, economically, geographically, you name it. They discover healthy, lasting outcomes. And, they are willing to recommend that others come here for help.

Hear from clients and clinicians about working with us.

The Washburn Difference

Making mental health care accessible

When your child is struggling, your mind is on them – rather than the business side of bills and co-pays.

As a community based provider, we work with all families. We navigate most insurance programs (specifics available here); we work with families who are ready for a private pay service and we offer support for families who are experiencing financial hardship or are underinsured.

We believe healing should be available no matter your income and insurance.

More than half of families may have incomes that qualify for assistance, reduced or forgiven fees. When you talk with our team, ask about a solution.

Connecting communities of color to quality care

While the mental health crisis has grown among all youth, the crisis is deeper among Black and Brown kids who are overrepresented in the system.

For more than a decade, more than 50 percent of Washburn Center clients have identified as BIPOC.

This is more than the percentage of BIPOC children in our community’s overall population, which illustrates the disproportionate impact of racial inequities on mental well-being.

It’s why we deeply integrate our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work with our staff. The services we provide must be culturally responsive to make a difference with kids and families.

Learn more about how we are working to improve representation and culturally responsive care

Who we serve

In 2022, our therapists met with 3,890 children for 82,000 hours of therapy in family homes, schools, hospitals and community centers. This represents a 15% increase in therapeutic time for only 3% more children—a clear reflection of the impacts of epidemics, community violence and societal pressures on children and families.

With our full continuum of care, Washburn Center serves children ages birth to 18, with an average of 46% between ages 6 to 11.

Generally, half are girls and half boys, and 30% participate in more than one of our programs. Families live throughout the Twin Cities metro area, with 51% residing in Minneapolis, 25% in suburban Hennepin County and 25% in the remaining 10 regional counties.

Where we serve

Our therapists serve families in more than 11 counties in the core Twin Cities and suburbs and beyond.

We have clinics in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park and Edina that are part of an extensive network of community-based, in-home and school-based mental health care to give families holistic, wrap-around care.

Our therapists have offices in more than 50 schools in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Columbia Heights, Eden Prairie and Burnsville-Savage-Eagan; plus several charter schools. More than 60 therapists meet families and provide services in family home environments.

Washburn Center’s History: Evolving to Meet the Community’s Needs

1883

Cadwallader C. Washburn, co-founder of the milling company that has since become General Mills, founded the Washburn Memorial Orphan Asylum after a mill explosion left several children orphaned.

1924

After the orphanage closed in 1924, the nonprofit began providing services for children in foster care.

1951

Washburn Memorial Clinic opened as a mental health clinic, laying the foundation for Washburn Center to become the leading children’s mental health center in the state.

2007

The agency changed its name to Washburn Center for Children and, in the following year, received the Nonprofit Excellence Award from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

2014

Having doubled the number of children served, Washburn Center opened a new facility in North Minneapolis that offered even more Twin Cities children a place to grow and heal.