Mankato, MN: New autism clinic for 2 to 6 yr olds; 'increase access to care'

Mar 15, 2025, Mankato Free Press: New autism center planning move to Mankato

https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/new-autism-center-planning-move-to-mankato/article_81a34696-01ce-11f0-8810-036a8064449d.amp.html 

An autism service provider plans to open a new clinic in Mankato in a building formerly used as a childcare center.

Based in the Twin Cities, Fraser describes itself as Minnesota’s largest autism and early childhood mental health services provider. Mankato would be its second Greater Minnesota location after St. Cloud, and its first in southern Minnesota.

The move will help connect autism services to more families, limiting the need to travel long distances for care, said Brooke Anderson, senior director of applied behavior analysis with Fraser.

“We have a commitment to try to get to a point where families don’t have to travel more than 35 minutes, or miles, for care,” she said. . . .

 “Working with school districts, we’ll be able to grow into those communities and expand our services,” she said. “It felt like a good step in our mission to increase access to care.” . . .

The clinic’s clientele would be toddlers up to 6-year-olds. Using partnerships with pre-schools and school districts, Fraser’s intensive programming uses group and individual therapy sessions to build skills needed for children to transition into school systems.

Full-day programming is most common, Anderson said, ultimately preparing clients for less intensive settings next.

Fraser requested a conditional use permit to allow a clinic at the site from a city committee Tuesday. In a document to the city in late February, Charles Gravelle, Fraser’s property development and asset manager director, stated the clinic will employ about 40 people and the work would be virtually indistinguishable to the public from the previous daycare operations.

Fraser’s arrival in the Mankato area follows autism service providers Caravel Autism Health in Mankato and Minnesota Autism Center, or MAC, Midwest in North Mankato.

Once open in fall 2025, Anderson said Fraser will plan an open house for the public to get in and see the space and meet providers. . . .