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Clara's House

Clara's House
1564 County Road 134
St. Cloud, MN 56303

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Service Line

What is Clara’s House (partial hospitalization)?

  • Take a Photo Tour of Clara's House
  • Waiting area near the entrance
  • Sitting area with piano
  • A front porch is built into the interior decor
  • Group therapy room - Therapy may occur in individual or group room settings or alternate areas like the gym, garden or recreational play.
  • Gym
  • Gym Games
  • Play therapy room
  • The garden’s raised flower beds allow children to be a caregiver while they receive care. Tending a garden slows the heart, regulates the emotions and provides a sense of well-being.
  • The patio of stamped concrete in the shape of a sunflower offers space for large and small group therapy.
  • Children have the unique opportunity to use physical and recreational therapy to recover from mental health challenges and chemical dependency.
  • Swing Set on playground
  • Playground
  • The playground, named David’s Place, gives the children and adolescents a sense of competency and normalcy plus they learn lessons during play about cooperation, strength and perseverance.
  • The Sunflower Field was named for Mae Ellingson-Skalicky. The youth use it daily for recreational therapy such as soccer, golf and kite flying.
  • The Sunflower Field.

At Clara’s House children and adolescents receive care for mental health and/or chemical dependency in a healing, nurturing, and safe atmosphere. Clara’s House is a place to find hope.

We provide intensive, collaborative, therapeutic services supporting youth and their families.

Patient-centered services are provided for ages 5-18 based on referral needs, assessment and therapy plan. Physicians, providers and interdisciplinary staff put the patient and family at the center of care.

Clara's House Design

The design of Clara’s House features many homelike attributes. This creates a healing atmosphere where children feel welcome and comfortable and can develop their own sense of strength, determination and self worth.

Information about Clara's House

Programs at Clara’s House

  • Continuing Care at Clara's House
    • The goal of this program is to offer additional support and bolster long-term success by providing specialized services for youth and families as they transition from Clara's House. Currently, the main focus of Continuing Care is to provide parents with the tools needed to be successful with meeting the needs of their children.
    • Parent Enrichment is an education and support group open to any parent/caregiver who has a child with behavioral health needs. Learn more about Parent Enrichment including June's schedule (PDF) Schedule for July/August (PDF)
  • Adolescent Chemical Dependency Program (Recovery Plus)
    Learn more about the Recovery Plus Adolescent Residential Facility
  • Early Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program
  • Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program
  • Child Partial Hospitalization Program

Facts about Clara's House

  • Serves nearly 500 youth each year
  • The first St. Cloud Hospital facility paid for completely by community donations, it opened October 2004
  • Nearly 25,000 square foot building includes gym, playroom, classrooms, group rooms, garden, patio, playground and more.
  • Clara’s House is named after benefactor, Mae Ellingson-Skalicky’s mother “Clara,” who spent her life loving and caring for children. In addition, hundreds of community benefactors have also contributed. Read Clara's story

Video: See how Clara's House makes a difference

Video: Art Therapy

More Information for Families

Learn more about the Recovery Plus Adolescent Residential Facility