Health, clinics, and crisis support

Share Only What a Clinic Requires

Intended for: Families seeking care

Call before you go: Ask what information the clinic actually needs before sharing your name, address, insurance, or ID. Many free and sliding-fee clinics require very little; some only need you to show up.

Ask Before You Go

Intended for: Families seeking care

You can call any clinic and ask what ID, insurance, address, or demographic information is required before showing up. You are not required to share this information before deciding whether to visit.

The Safe Process for Volunteers

Intended for: Volunteers helping families access care

1. Call the resource first
   • Confirm it's open, what it covers, what's required, and whether interpretation is available. You can call anonymously.
2. Confirm what the family needs to bring
   • Don't let someone show up without knowing what documents, consent forms, or insurance cards are required.
3. Offer to go with them
   • Offer to accompany them to the clinic or stay on the phone during intake. It reduces fear and helps catch issues early.
4. Start with the lowest-barrier option
   • If fear is high, try Diamondhead, St. Mary's, or the Crisis Line first, then move to county or system-level programs if needed.
5. Be cautious with online intake forms
   • Check how data is stored and who can access it. If it's unclear, call and ask about phone intake instead.

Volunteer Limits & Boundaries

Intended for: Volunteers helping families

Volunteers are connectors, not medical providers. Share options, help reduce fear, and offer to go with them, but do not diagnose, advise on treatment or medications, or make decisions for the family. If someone is in immediate danger, call 988 or 911 first, then coordinate from there.

Diamondhead Community Clinic (Burnsville)

Free walk-in care for children and youth from infancy through high school graduation who live in Burnsville, Eagan, or Savage, or attend a school in ISD 191. All families welcome regardless of insurance.

Dakota County Public Health: Immunization Clinics

Low-cost or free immunizations for children of any age without insurance. Also accepts children on MA, MNCare, or PMAP. Walk-in and appointment options both available.

Associated Clinic of Psychology

Outpatient mental health services for people on MN Health Care Programs or private insurance. Uninsured may be eligible for a sliding fee; ask when you call.

Canvas Health

Broad outpatient behavioral health for all ages: therapy, substance use treatment, psychiatry, medication management, psychological evaluations, and day treatment. In-person and telehealth. No one turned away for inability to pay per their website.

NAMI Dakota County

Free classes, support groups, and peer navigation for people with mental illness and their families. All income levels. Not a crisis line; for crisis, call 988 or 952-891-7171.

Fast-Tracker Minnesota

Searchable database of mental health and substance use providers with immediate openings. Search by service type, location, insurance, and availability. Includes providers who speak Hmong, Somali, and Spanish.

HealthPartners / Park Nicollet Clinics

Primary and urgent care at multiple Dakota County locations. Online scheduling available. Virtual visits available through the HealthPartners app. Search by zip code on their website to find the nearest location.

Crisis and Recovery Center (West St. Paul)

Short-term residential crisis stabilization for adults in mental health crisis. Up to 10-day stay with assessment, support, and Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS). Operated by Guild Mental Health. Access through the Dakota County Crisis Line.

988 Suicide + Crisis Lifeline

Free, confidential phone, text, and chat support for anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis. All ages. Veterans line (press 1), Spanish line (press 2), and mobile crisis teams available.

M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital: Emergency Department

Full emergency and psychiatric emergency care, 24/7. Cannot turn anyone away for inability to pay. Charity care and financial assistance programs are available; ask at registration for a financial counselor.

PrairieCare Psychiatric: Apple Valley + Burnsville

Psychiatric emergency services, inpatient, partial hospitalization (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) for children, adolescents, and adults. Crisis walk-in assessment available at both locations.

M Health Fairview: Video Visits

Video visits for primary care, mental health, and specialty care. Available to existing and new patients. Schedule online or call your nearest clinic.

988 Lifeline: Chat + Text

Real-time text and chat support from trained crisis counselors. Free. Available 24/7. Spanish text and chat available.

211 United Way: Coverage Navigation

Free, confidential help navigating health insurance, social services, and local resources. Can connect families to Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, and other programs. Available in Somali, Russian, Hmong, and Spanish.

Dakota County Employment + Economic Assistance

Apply for Medical Assistance (MA) or MinnesotaCare through Dakota County. In-person and phone options available at two service center locations.

Mental Health MN Peer Support Line

Someone to talk to. Peer specialists trained by lived experience, not clinical staff. Available seven days a week.

Crisis Text Line

24/7 text support from trained crisis counselors. Available in English and Spanish.

NAMI Minnesota Helpline

Navigation and referrals for mental health services. Not a crisis line; for crisis, call 988 first. Leave a message; callbacks Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.