St. David's Developmental & Therapeutic Services

St. David's Developmental & Therapeutic Services St. David’s is an exceptional preschool, children’s mental health clinic, day treatment clinic, and pediatric therapy clinic—all under one roof. Since 1961, St.

David's Center has been providing: Early Childhood Education/Preschool to children of all abilities, outpatient pediatric therapies (speech & OT), mental health services, autism day treatment and supportive services, early intervention/treatment, & supportive services for individuals with lifelong disabilities.

Rowan is 4 and he already has big dreams — he can name the planets, their moons and even asteroids! One day he hopes to ...
05/08/2026

Rowan is 4 and he already has big dreams — he can name the planets, their moons and even asteroids! One day he hopes to check these out up close and personal as an astronaut. His path hasn't been easy, after losing his words due to apraxia his world is opening back up.

Today, with support and care, he's finding his voice again one step at a time while navigating some —as his mom calls it— "neurospicy" tendencies.

Now he has words you can understand, a best friend who holds his hand, and a future full of possibility. Because every child deserves the chance to be heard—and to reach for the stars. https://www.stdavidsmn.org/astronomical-effort-rowan

Mental Health Awareness Weeks Fast Facts: - 1 in 5 children 0-8 years old are living with a mental health issue at any t...
05/07/2026

Mental Health Awareness Weeks Fast Facts:
- 1 in 5 children 0-8 years old are living with a mental health issue at any time (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics)
-50% of adults with mental health issues reported their mental health needs manifested in early adolescence (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics)
-Boys age 2-8 are more likely than girls to have a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder (Source: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine)
Early intervention is so important, we see it every day. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health ignore the stigma and get the help you need.

Over 100 new trees were planted in out our Minnetonka school forest today!🌲🪵☀️How have you been connecting with nature r...
04/29/2026

Over 100 new trees were planted in out our Minnetonka school forest today!🌲🪵☀️

How have you been connecting with nature recently?

Happy Home Visiting Week! Thank you for all the work you do with everyone we serve. Hear more about St. David's approach...
04/22/2026

Happy Home Visiting Week! Thank you for all the work you do with everyone we serve. Hear more about St. David's approach to this personalized parenting service in the following video.

https://youtu.be/5htab8EsQbc?si=u0hdZdUJhfQWSNUg

Listening in a Different WayTracy Lesnikowski firmly believes that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in y...
04/17/2026

Listening in a Different Way

Tracy Lesnikowski firmly believes that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. After two decades in the field, she isn't just working—she’s advocating.

Tracy’s journey began 20 years ago in the school district, where she quickly realized that the "media version" of Autism didn't match the vibrant reality of the kids she worked with. That realization eventually led her to St. David’s Center, where she now serves as a Paraprofessional at our Minnetonka ADT Center.

"Most people see the stigma. Kids who don’t make eye contact or use verbal speech," Tracy says. "But they have SO MUCH to say. You just have to learn to listen differently. When you provide the right tools, they can achieve anything."

For Tracy, "listening differently" means seeing the potential in every interaction. She recalls a recent breakthrough with a student who used a "talker" (AAC device) to communicate. After 1.5 years of working together to adjust the tool and master its use, Tracy heard a voice over a walkie-talkie that stopped her in her tracks:

"My ride’s here! Yay!"

It’s those four words—a year and a half in the making—that remind Tracy why she does what she does. By bridging the gap between school, home, and center, Tracy ensures our kids don’t just have a voice—they have a community that knows how to listen.




The Week of the Young Child celebrates the joy of childhood in all its forms. We celebrate children every day here at St...
04/13/2026

The Week of the Young Child celebrates the joy of childhood in all its forms. We celebrate children every day here at St. David’s, focusing on the whole child and providing fun and developmentally beneficial activities that encourage learning, laughter, and life skills. Tune in to our story this week to find some at-home activities you can do with your children to celebrate with us.

Beauty in her work Aleyah Boelk, didn’t initially expect her career to focus on kids with autism, but as a Mental Health...
04/10/2026

Beauty in her work

Aleyah Boelk, didn’t initially expect her career to focus on kids with autism, but as a Mental Health Practitioner in St. David’s Autism Day Treatment program every day is filled with joy and curiosity.

“There’s so much beauty working in this space,” Aleyah said. “The kids we work with are smart, resilient and adaptable. You see it in so many ways. Especially in rooms like mine where most of the kids are nonverbal.”

Day in and day out she sees so many beautiful things, but to her these are the ones that stand out:

-A deep eagerness to learn and engage.
-The moment a child makes a connection after being introduced to sign language.
-The ‘explosion’ of communication once a child finds their voice, in whatever form that takes.
-The way kids develop agency to advocate for their needs and stand up for themselves.
-The pure joy found in every milestone.

“Autism can be a big challenge, but I am in awe of these kids and their parents that are navigating such hard things,” Aleyah said, “The parents and our teams are constantly seeing the beauty and meeting kids where they are to help them thrive in all spaces.”

Understanding. Inclusion. Belonging.Autism Appreciation Month is a reminder that when everyone belongs, something beauti...
04/03/2026

Understanding. Inclusion. Belonging.
Autism Appreciation Month is a reminder that when everyone belongs, something beautiful happens. Let's move from Autism Acceptance to Autism Appreciation. Join us as we listen, learn, and celebrate all month long.

We loved seeing familiar St. David’s faces at the Capitol this week for Advocacy for Children Day! Our Security and Oper...
03/27/2026

We loved seeing familiar St. David’s faces at the Capitol this week for Advocacy for Children Day! Our Security and Operations team joined advocates from across the state, including parents, educators, and community partners, to call on policymakers to support early learners and educators. There was time for letter-writing and the opportunity to connect with and thank those supporting children every day. 💙

Special thanks to Greater Twin Cities United Way for organizing!

Address

3395 Plymouth Road
Minnetonka, MN
55305

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 6pm
Tuesday 7am - 6pm
Wednesday 7am - 4pm
Thursday 7am - 8pm
Friday 7am - 6pm

Telephone

+19529390396

Website

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