St. David's Developmental & Therapeutic Services

Come explore, connect, and celebrate with us at our Nicollet Center Open House! Enjoy food, activities, giveaways, and a chance to learn more about the programs and services happening in our downtown Minneapolis community. 💙

Once again this year, St. David’s has been recognized as one of the Top Five Best Places to Work in the Large/Extra-Large Employer category by the Minneapolis–St. Paul Business Journal. https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2026/06/11/2026-best-places-to-work-honorees-largest-firms.html

Our CEO, Julie Sjordal, sums it up best in her message to all of us just minutes ago: “This past year has brought its share of challenges, and yet, day after day, you have continued to show up with commitment, compassion, and purpose...keeping the importance of our work—and the people we serve—at the center of everything you do. This recognition belongs to all of you. It reflects who you are, how you care for one another, and how you bring our mission to life every single day. Together, we are building something special—not just a great place to work, but a community rooted in purpose and impact.”

Celebrate St. David’s expansion of its Nicollet Center! Join our free downtown Minneapolis
event to connect with your community and see the excitement of what’s ahead.

The event includes:
-Food and beverages
-Activity stations
-Giveaways
-Meet-and-greets
-A sneak peek at our construction renderings
-Music

Show your support by signing one of our construction beams as we continue to grow
strong roots in the heart of the city.

RSVP: https://ow.ly/fBRK50Z3nHk

Since High School, Rachel Kullas knew she wanted her career to make a difference in others' lives. She started working with the St. David’s Therapeutic Recreation (TR) team as prep for graduate school, but it turned into so much more.

“After helping with TR I decided to become an Occupational Therapist. My work in TR really confirmed how much I liked to work with kids, adolescents and people with disabilities.” Rachel said. “I loved the idea of looking at the whole person, finding out what motivated them – a favorite song to help with a dressing routine, or a game tied to brushing their teeth. Working with kids from the beginning to address their challenges to set them up for success and independence really spoke to my heart.”

Seeing clients find joy and confidence in their lives motivates her. Getting feedback from parents that their kids are happy, thriving, and more confident in their day-to-day lives lets her know that she’s doing something that is truly making a difference.

Her most recent favorite client memory was seeing a client fulfill a goal of riding her bike to the Dairy Queen near Minnetonka Center.

It was the clients’ last day in Rachel’s care before getting discharged.

“She was so nervous about all the bumps in the road, so we took lots of breaks to help her reach her goal,” Rachel said. “I saw her use the skills I taught her to manage her anxiety, take a deep breath, and continue once she felt calm. I learned a lot from her that day about facing my fears and accomplishing something I’d put my mind to.”

Three years can change everything for a child and their family. For Langston, those years included an autism diagnosis and a move across the country. Today, Langston is 7 and recently celebrated his birthday with 20 friends — many of them from St. David’s. Just a few years ago, his parents never imagined a moment like this. Learn more about their journey to giving Langston more joy in his days. https://ow.ly/SUjZ50Z2HoU

A huge thank you to our friends from Tradition Capital Bank who helped us beautify our Big Playground today. We hope you enjoyed your time in the sunshine!

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 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.