Washburn Center for Children

04/21/2026

This spring, we are rising in a Surge of Hope.

The word "surge" once threatened our communities. Now we're reclaiming it.

This year has been indescribable for families. Heightened immigration enforcement hit at the very moment children's mental health needs were already at historic levels. At Washburn Center, trauma and stress-related disorders are now the most common diagnoses for the children we serve. And the full impact is just beginning to unfold.

This is community trauma. The harm stretches beyond separated families.

It lives in the classmate who notices the empty seat. The neighbor kids who feel the silence. Teenagers watching raids on their phone.
Caregivers cannot carry this alone. And we cannot wait for systems to catch up.

Washburn Center was founded after the 1883 mill explosion left children without caregivers. We have always shown up in the hardest moments. We are ready now.

Your gift today — alongside a lead gift from M.A. Mortenson Companies — will connect children to trauma-informed care and help us respond without waiting on public funding.

For kids whose worlds have been shaken repeatedly, your support is not symbolic. It is an immediate act of hope.

Join us. A Surge of Hope starts here. https://my.onecause.com/fundraiser/organizations/sf-001C000000uRiN9IAK/fundraisers/fundraiser:847e4256-babc-4904-8993-9430fe7e167c

04/07/2026

Thanks to WCCO & CBS News Minnesota and for continuing to keep the story in focus that kids in our community continue to struggle in a historic mental health crisis.

Our mission has never been more relevant than it is today, as kids witness lives ripped apart by Operation Metro Surge.

We know that mental health support changes outcomes after community trauma. We are here. We are holding hope.

In a viral video, a Minneapolis mom says kids here "are not doing OK." This comes after she heard a conversation between two sixth graders about some of Minnesota's more recent traumas​.

03/26/2026

We were proud to stand with staff, partners, and community voices at Mental Health Day on the Hill—because mental health care must remain accessible for all Minnesotans.

Now the work continues.

✅ Protect Medicaid
✅ Preserve behavioral health funding
✅ Ensure fraud is addressed effectively without limiting care

Advocacy doesn’t stop after one event. Reach out to your lawmakers this spring and share why mental health care matters to you.

Together, our voices make a difference.

03/25/2026

Our communities are in a mental health crisis, and our system is struggling—but change is possible.

Mental Health Advocacy Week is underway. Contact your state legislator today to:
- Protect access to Medicaid
- Preserve services as fraud issues are resolved
- Support policy and funding that improve access, availability, and quality of care for all Minnesotans
Join us tomorrow for Mental Health Day on the Hill—rally at 11 a.m. in the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda.

03/16/2026

Helping is more important than ever right now. There’s never been a better time to get equipped to respond to our community’s mental health needs in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Take two simple steps today:

1. Register now for FREE mental health first aid training so you’re ready to recognize when someone may be struggling and know how to respond. https://washburn.org/mhfa/

2. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to approve critical funding for Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) grants, which keep these lifesaving trainings free and accessible to adults across our communities. https://thenationalcouncil.quorum.us/campaign/157965/

When more people know how to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, we build stronger, more supportive communities for everyone.

03/16/2026

Washburn Center for Children locations are open. However, because of school closures, some services are affected by winter weather.

Day Treatment and Family Focused
classrooms closed Monday 3/16.

Scheduled clients can be supported via telehealth please call for more information. 612-871-1454.

If someone you know is in crisis, call 988, the su***de and crisis lifeline, for help. If experiencing immediate danger, call 911.

03/08/2026

🌿 Celebrating International Women’s Day

Today, we honor the strength, compassion, and resilience of women everywhere—especially those who nurture, guide, and uplift children and families throughout our community.

At Washburn Center for Children, we know that hope grows when women are supported. Their well-being is deeply connected to our mission of providing transformative mental health care that helps children and families heal and thrive. 💜

Here’s to the women who lead with courage, create healing spaces, and inspire hope—today and every day.

02/24/2026

Reducing stress starts with giving ourselves and our kids a little more compassion. When big feelings show up—yours or theirs—try pausing to name the feeling, take a breath, and respond with kindness instead of criticism. Self-compassion in caregivers is linked to lower stress and better emotional well-being, which supports healthier relationships and mental health for children, too.​

"Stress isn't a siren call to 'suck it up,' or an invitation to embrace perfectionism," says psychologist Juli Fraga. Try doing these five things instead.

02/19/2026

Our community is hurting.
Because of the incursion of federal agents in Minnesota, families are carrying heavy layers of fear and trauma—and children are among those most deeply affected. These experiences ripple into every part of our community, from classrooms to workplaces.
Children’s mental health isn’t just a family issue—it’s a community and workplace issue.
Washburn Center invites you to act: join an upcoming Mental Health First Aid training and learn how to provide compassionate, informed support to those in need.
💙 Together, we can build a stronger, more trauma-aware Minnesota.
• Tuesday February 24 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. youth curriculum
• Friday March 20 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. youth curriculum
• Tuesday March 24 9 a.m. -5 p.m. adult-specific curriculum
• Thursday April 2 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. youth curriculum
• Wednesday April 22 9 a.m. -5 p.m. adult-specific curriculum

🔗Register today! https://washburn.org/2026-mental-health-first-aid/

02/16/2026

Is your child kindergarten ready? https://www.startribune.com/is-your-child-kindergarten-ready/601579420

Kindergarten checklists are everywhere—but they don’t always tell you what’s really going on beneath the surface. Our developmental screening goes beyond basic readiness assessments to give you clear, research-informed insights you can feel confident in. Washburn Center psychologists are here to help you discover what’s best for your child and your family. Learn more: washburn.org/testing

02/05/2026

Knowing how to talk with kids at different ages is one of the heavier asks of caregivers right now. Here are some helpful insights.

Experts explain why hard conversations can be reassuring, suggest age-appropriate information to share.

02/05/2026

NEW dates for 2026: FREE training and certification in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) at youth and adult levels! This training gives you the tools to take action when people need you most. Learn more and sign up today:

Get Trained in Mental Health First Aid Be ready to help with the hurt. Return to Training Institute People count on you to be ready.Washburn Center’s Mental Health First Aid Training is one of the few to offer the latest training to strengthen community protective factors, offer early intervention...