Impact Report 2021-22 | The Baker Center for Children and Families

IMPACT REPORT 2021-2022

Improving care. Changing lives.

Thank You.

Your support makes it possible for The Baker Center for Children and Families to reach its bold goals to strengthen patient care, lead in mental health, special education and innovative research, and build healthier communities. We are deeply grateful for your loyalty and support of our organization.

Families often struggle to find available and affordable mental health care for their children. It is a complicated situation impacted by increasing demand, lack of providers, inadequate insurance coverage, and a myriad of issues. Now it is even more difficult as families face higher costs due to inflation.

To support families, The Baker Center accepts Tufts Health public plans and offers a sliding scale based on income and insurance reimbursement levels. We are enhancing our infrastructure with the goal of being able to accept additional MassHealth products in the coming years. Last year, more than 50% of patients benefited from need based aid and reduced fees for programs and services.

The Baker Center relies on donor generosity to help close the gap so that all children and families can receive equitable access to effective mental and behavioral health care and special education programs. Your investment sustains our legacy as a leading resource in children’s mental health services, research, and education.

We envision a just, compassionate world where every young person can easily access the care they need and find belonging, purpose, and agency to thrive. We sincerely thank you for your generosity and continued participation to help make that vision possible.

Dr. Robert P. Franks President and CEO

Children receiving care from providers trained by The Baker Center have a greater reduction in problem areas and experience shorter treatment duration than other treatment options.

The State of Children’s Mental Health*

Rates of childhood mental and behavioral health concerns have been steadily rising over the past decade, but the pandemic, its trauma and loss, and issues of racial inequality have accelerated trends observed prior to 2020. In fall of 2021, leading pediatric health experts issued an urgent warning declaring the mental health crisis among children a national emergency.

In Massachusetts, children are struggling with anxiety and depression at unprecedented levels. Massachusetts saw a 50% increase in anxiety and depression diagnoses among kids aged 3 to 17, going from 12.2% in 2016 to 18.4% in 2020 – higher than the national average of 11.8%. Recent Community Health Needs Assessments confirmed youth mental health as a top concern of residents of Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex, and Norfolk counties.

Despite the increasing prevalence and recognition of youth mental health challenges, many children suffer silently, and those that seek behavioral health support often encounter months-long wait lists to receive care.

In February 2022, the Association for Behavioral Healthcare reported a "workforce crisis" is affecting mental health care in Massachusetts, resulting in longer waits for outpatient treatment and fewer people getting care. Even when seen, treatment effectiveness can be uneven. The gaps are large and time-sensitive. Research shows that early preventive and effective interventions provide a critical opportunity to help children and families more quickly address difficulties that affect development and well-being.

It is not enough to only increase access to services. We must also increase the quality of services. The Baker Center is leading the way, training practitioners in evidence-based and best practices to deliver effective care.

* Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health, American Academy of Pediatrics, and The Annie E. Casey Foundation 2022 Kids Count Data Book.

Only 1 in 5 only 25% Of children receiving care

of children need mental health services 25% 6 The Baker Center for Children and Families | 2021-22 Impact Report

PROVEN

PROFESSIONAL

Our clinical and education professionals are recognized as children’s mental health and special education experts.

PASSION & COMMITMENT

INVESTMENT

Our training programs provide professional development that is robust, rigorous, and relevant.

CONVENIENCE

Two locations—Boston and Waltham—plus telehealth makes it easier to connect with therapists.

PARTNERSHIPS

We work with 50+ organizations to extend our services and impact through training and direct service.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

INNOVATION

We seek to innovate and continuously improve through assessment, feedback, and data.

The Center for Effective Therapy

The Center for Effective Therapy provides short-term outpatient, evidence-based mental health treatments for children, ages 2-22, and families who are dealing with problems related to anxiety, depression, trauma, disruptive behavior, and parenting. At our clinics in Boston and Waltham, families from more than 100 towns and cities in Eastern Massachusetts seek support from our clinicians. Therapists help children and caregivers learn skills to enhance relationships and address emotional and behavioral problems. Since operating two clinics, we have had an 80% increase in outpatient services and continue to hire clinicians to help meet the demand for services.

I used to have a knot in my stomach when I dropped my child off at school until I picked him up. I would worry the phone would ring because something had happened. I was overwhelmed with how to how to approach his challenges. Since The Baker Center, our life is not without challenges. But now I have the skills to talk with him and his teachers. We all have so much more peace and happiness in our lives.

- CET Parent

Most of the time when parents call us, they're really struggling. They're stressed out and they don't know where else to go. We always think about how brave it is for parents to make that initial call to reach out for help. We meet them in that space and help them understand that there are things that we know work to help their kid get better and that, as a team, we're going to help.

- CET Therapist

The Manville School is a therapeutic day school for children, ages 5-16, experiencing complex emotional, behavioral, and diverse learning styles that impact their ability to succeed in other school settings. Each year, 100-110 children achieve exceptional educational and personal outcomes through Manville’s curriculum, instructional, and clinical practices. Manville’s diverse students hail from more than 50 towns and cities in the Greater Boston Area. Last year, more than 40% of students qualified for free or reduced lunches.

The team at the Manville School is really invested in seeing the whole child succeed. They make sure that students have all the external support around them, both in the classroom and with their families at home, so that they can be the best versions of themselves as learners and as people.

- Manville Parent

The most important thing that I tell my students is: “You know that you are so much more than what's currently going on around you. You are more than your worst day.”

- Manville Teacher

I really like how when you have a problem, you can always find someone to help you. I think that's something special about Manville.

- Manville Student

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The Baker Center for Children and Families

Camp Baker is a six-week summer day camp for children, ages 6-12, with ADHD and related challenges. Each summer, 50-60 children find joy and gain social, academic, and life skills giving them confidence in school and life. They also gain friendships, helping them feel understood, accepted, and cared for – experiences that are vital for personal and lifetime achievement. Held at Hale Reservation in Westwood, it’s the only Summer Treatment Program (STP) in the U.S. that is run at a real camp location.

Often kids with ADHD are great at getting negative attention from adults and kids. They will come to Camp Baker saying, “I’m not smart” or “I’m not a good listener.” We work hard to flip that pattern to change their self-dialogue. By the end of the summer, through specific and positive labeled praise, they build their confidence and self-esteem and can say, “I am smart.” We love to hear that kind of that change – in how they think about themselves and how they want to carry that behavior and thinking forward in other settings.

- Staff Psychologist

I never want to leave Camp Baker. I want to stay there all day!

- Camper

Next Step: College Success & Independent Living

Next Step builds confidence for independent living and college life for students, ages 16-20, with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, social anxiety, and non-verbal learning disabilities or related learning differences. Each year, 30-40 students participate in social nights, day-long sessions, and a week-long overnight college campus stay. Participants learn what to expect in college – what supports are available and how to access them – and practice navigating academic and social situations. Next Step graduates have gone on to these schools among others: Amherst College, Berklee College of Music, Bridgewater State, Harvard University, Lesley College, Merrimack University, Middlebury College, North Shore Community College, Northeastern University, Notre Dame University, NYU, R.I.T., and UMass Amherst.

For young adults with significant communication or anxiety challenges, navigating new relationships, schedules, and demands can be hard. Living with a roommate, eating well, and talking with professors when something’s not going well can be particularly difficult. Our students really benefit from a head start to help them become more independent and live away from home.

- Next Step Teacher

Next Step was a profoundly life-changing experience. It opened doors for me, helping me to believe in myself and my ability to be successful at the college level as well as whatever my next step happens to be.

- Next Step Graduate

The Quality Care Initiative

The Quality Care Initiative (QCI) offers professional development training to mental and behavioral health practitioners to increase access to high quality, culturallysensitive care for diverse children and families.

During the past two years, demand for training programs has significantly increased, and the QCI team has more than doubled to meet the need. Last year, more than 400 providers from community mental centers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, North Carolina, Florida, and Utah benefited from QCI training. Our ‘Train the Trainer’ program enables clinicians to develop more advanced skills so that they can teach and supervise other clinicians – exponentially increasing use of and access to effective techniques in communities across the country.

We are delighted when our community partners tell us they are seeing results –the children and families they are serving are getting better faster and they’re staying better longer.

- QCI Team Member

After training, The Baker Center’s team stays involved with me, my supervisor, and even my director. Our partnership is a twoway street. We share what we are seeing in the clients we are working with, and they provide suggestions and share what they are learning from other clinicians too. It has a powerful multiplying effect.

- QCI Participant

Professional Training Program

Caring for children with mental and behavioral health needs is increasingly complex, staffing and resources are stretched, and burnout among providers is climbing. There are simply not enough professionals to meet the need for child and adolescent services in outpatient, school-based, and primary care settings.

The Baker Center is working to address the gap by providing professional training programs to current and future psychologists, social workers, early childhood specialists, special education teachers, psychiatrists, nurses, and mental health counselors. To support undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral students with little applied experience, we offer real-life training through practicums, internships, and fellowship opportunities at our outpatient CET clinics, the Manville School, Camp Baker, and Next Step.

Equipping practitioners to utilize evidence-based treatment practices increases not only the effectiveness of care, but the efficiency of care. Research shows that patients improve more quickly and experience shorter courses of treatment using well-established evidence-based treatments, resulting in a more efficient use of resources and less stress placed on practitioners.

Addressing the workforce situation is a paramount concern. All youth deserve someone to be there for them when they need help and not have to wait.

- QCI Team Member

The Baker Center’s training program exceeded my expectations. I feel confident I can better deliver the kind of high-quality care that my patients require.

- QCI Participant

Baker Center for Children and Families

Evidence-Based Policy Institute

The Evidence-Based Policy Institute promotes research and offers expertise on a comprehensive range of mental health policy issues. Our team educates and collaborates with legislators and state leaders to influence effective policy and funding decisions and partners with state and community organizations to increase access to high quality, culturally-sensitive care for diverse children and families. Recent highlights:

• Spotlighting the needs of LGBTQ+children by publishing policy reports and hosting a webinar focused on improving the lives of LGBTQ+ youth.

• Increasing awareness and utilization of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in underserved communities by partnering with Morning Star Baptist Church and The Gaston Institute to host vaccination events.

• Increasing awareness of COVID-19 research through our policy reports: “The ‘New Normal’ and Life Beyond COVID-19” and providing actionable recommendations to inform state-level COVID-19 relief funding decisions. The series was shared widely on social media and led to speaking engagements and interviews with news media including NBC Boston and Harvard Magazine.

The Baker Center has a stellar reputation. Physical health and spiritual health go together – and with our partnership, we expect to touch hundreds, if not thousands, for the better.

- Community Partner

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The Massachusetts Child Abuse Emergency Line, operated by The Baker Center for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, provides a statewide emergency response system protecting the Commonwealth’s children from abuse and neglect. Last year, the Emergency Line fielded 69,436 calls – operating 24 hours/day, 365 days/year.

New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors

NEACWCD is a consortium of child welfare agency leaders and staff from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont working to improve the safety and well-being of children and their families, especially those with lived experience in the foster care system. Through a myriad of events, trainings, and policy initiatives, the Association strives to engage young people to improve the foster care system.

Baker Center for Children and Families

Increasing Access to High-Quality Care

Since opening in 2020, The Baker Center’s new stateof-the-art Waltham Campus is helping to meet the diverse needs of thousands of children and families and address the shortage of clinicians delivering high-quality care. The over 12,000 square foot facility houses our second outpatient clinic and professional training programs, and the Massachusetts Child Abuse Emergency Line.

Now with two campuses – Mission Hill in Boston and in Waltham – The Baker Center serves children and families living in more than 100 Massachusetts cities and towns.

In 2023, we will open new therapeutic spaces in Mission Hill, enabling us double the amount of outpatients seen in Boston. To make this possible, our administrative, training, innovation, and policy teams are moving to Waltham. Bringing the teams together will foster innovation, creativity, and collaboration to meet the challenges and tackle the complexities inherent in our work.

Boston Campus

Waltham Campus

Baker Center for Children and Families

We celebrate members of The Baker Center family who made a gift of $5,000+ to the Waltham Campaign to expand access to the very best mental health care.

Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund

Deborah and Donald Anderson

Walter and Eleanor Angoff Berkeley Building Company

Roger Berman and Anne Bailey Berman

Tom and Joan Bishop Julie and Joe Bradley

Thanda Fields Brassard Rick and Lynne Breed

Cummings Foundation Anthony DeChellis

Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.

Eastern Bank

Karen Bressler and Scott Epstein Fiduciary Trust

Primo A. J. and Erin Fontana Dr. Robert P. Franks

Patricia Romeo-Gilbert and Paul Gilbert

The Goebel Family

Brian and Mary Jo Hogan Bob Holdway

Ralph and Janice James John Alden Trust

Andrew R. Knowland, Jr. Locke Lord LLP Mabel Louise Riley Foundation

David and Randi Martens

Kathryn Cade and Frederick Miller

Edward and Susanne Mullen Olga and Lev Perelman

John and Daniele Serafini Silicon Valley Bank Claire and Jeff Stern

The Upswing Fund for Adolescent Mental Health Eric and Amanda Tjonahen USA500 Giving Circle

Dorothy and Stephen Weber Wells Fargo Company

WALTHAM, MA

Waltham Campus Center for Effective Therapy MA Child Abuse Emergency Line

CHESTNUT HILL, MA

Next Step: College Success & Independent Living

WESTWOOD, MA Camp Baker

BOSTON, MA

Mission Hill Campus Manville School Center for Effective Therapy Evidence-Based Policy Institute Quality Care Initiative

2022 Events & Campaigns

Thank you to our event sponsors, volunteers, trustees, friends, and staff for your time, commitment, and generosity. You helped us raise over $300,000 of critical funding to fuel our programs, increase access, and improve care.

#HOPEFULHANDS CAMPAIGN

In May, we launched our #HopefulHands social media campaign in honor of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. We positioned the campaign around our core values, ensuring all families have the support they need to care for and strengthen children’s mental health, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Because the need for assistance has never been higher, we created the campaign to promote awareness, reduce stigma, and raise funds for our vital programs.

Building off imagery from our logo, #HopefulHands was meant to act as an outstretched hand between families and the resources they need. We put a spotlight on helpful content such as our COVID-19 report as well as provided direct recommendations for local and state leaders to take action on promoting positive outcomes for children and families.

16 TH ANNUAL BAKER CENTER GOLF TOURNAMENT

THE HOPES & DREAMS GALA

In celebration of Children’s Mental Health, more than 250 community leaders, parents, staff, and friends gathered on May 5 for our Hopes & Dreams Gala to raise funding for our life-changing therapeutic services like the Center for Effective Therapy, Camp Baker, Next Step, and the Manville School. Hosted by Latoyia Edwards, Anchor on NBC10 and NECN, at the historic SoWa Power Station in Boston’s South End, we recognized our honorees for their outstanding contributions to our organization and the community.

2022 HONEREES

IMARI PARIS JEFFRIES

Imari has served in executive roles at Parenting Journey, Jumpstart, Boston Rising, and Friends of The Children. He serves as a Trustee of the UMass System, as well as on the boards of USES, Providers Council, and Governor Baker’s Black Advisory Commission. He is a three-time graduate of UMass Boston and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. through UMass Boston’s Higher Education Program.

HANNA SAVRANSKY, M.ED.

Principal, Manville School

Judge Baker Children’s Center 48 Years of Service

Hanna has served as the Principal of the Manville School since 1995 and has been a member of the school’s administrative team for over 25 years. Throughout her tenure at the school, Hanna’s focus has been on the development and implementation of a comprehensive educational program to meet the needs of Manville students.

JAMES PRINCE, LICSW

Director, Manville School

Judge Baker Children’s

22 Years of Service

Center

Jim began his position as the Director of the Manville School in September 2000. A great contributor to the “culture of community” at Manville, Jim grew up in Boston and has served area families and children for over 20 years.

A CEL EBRATION OF CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH

Executive Director, King Boston Senior Advisor to the President and CEO, The Boston Foundation

2022 HOST COMMITTEE

Laura and Mark Barooshian

Rick and Lynne Breed

Chris and Kristen Cabral

Christine Dunn

Richard and Hilary Glovsky

Patricia Romeo-Gilbert and Paul Gilbert

Jay and Beth Goldfarb

Scott and Amy Goebel

Laura and Mark Barooshian

Berkeley Building Company

Jayesh Bhansali

The Boston Foundation

Bill and Barbara Beardslee

Rick and Lynne Breed

Chris and Kristen Cabral

Kathy Cade

Christine Dunn

DLA Piper

DGC, a division of PKF O’Connor Davies

Eastern Bank Foundation

Embrace Boston

Fiduciary Trust Company Grant Communications GO Agency

Scott and Amy Goebel

Dr. Michael Goldberg

Jay and Beth Goldfarb

Bob Holdway and Elin Graydon

Abram and Debbie Klein

Drew Knowland and Marijane Tuohy

Locke Lord LLP

Patricia Romeo-Gilbert and Paul Gilbert

MAAPS: Massachusetts Association of Approved Special Education Schools

Milton

Olga

and Daniele Serafini Jay and Linda Webber Dorothy and Stephen Weber

David and Randi Martens

Construction

Olga

and Lev Perelman

John and Daniele Serafini

Dr. Gary and Stephen Shaw-Lyon

Rebecca

Schechter and Alain Eudaric

Seven Letter

Tarlow, Breed, Hart, and Rodgers, P.C.

Dr. Eric and Amanda Tjonahen

TYGER Event Design and Production

Rich and Kristin Voccio

Rob and Jennifer Waldron

Dorothy and Stephen Weber

William James College

United Health Care

Bob and Brenda Franks

Manousaridis

and Lev Perelman

Mary and William Schmidt

DONORS

MAKING

Martignetti

NBC10 Boston

Jason V. Polasek

Irene Savransky

Mary and William Schmidt

Community

Collaboration is imperative for us to increase access and deepen our impact. We are grateful to work with a growing network of mission-aligned organizations to deliver services and increase access to high-quality mental and behavioral care to

children and families in Eastern Massachusetts and beyond.

Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston

Boston College

Boston Medical Center

Boston Public Health Commission

Boston Public Schools

Boston University

Boston University School of Social Work

Carney Hospital

Centerboard

Embrace Boston

Gaston Institute/UMASS Boston

Haitian American Medical Association

Hale Reservation

Harvard Business School/Community Action Partners

Harvard Kennedy School

Harvard Medical School

Lasell University

Massachusetts Department of Children & Families

Mattapan Community Health Center

Methuen Public Schools

Morning Star Baptist Church

Board of Trustees

From

Primo

Second-Vice

John Serafini Chair Laura K. Barooshian

First Vice-Chair David J. Martens

Chair & Treasurer

Thanda Fields Brassard Clerk

Nidhi Aggarwal Jayesh D. Bhansali

Julie M. B. Bradley

Richard P. Breed III Christopher D. Cabral Christine Dunn

A.J. Fontana Scott Goebel

Andrew R. Knowland, Jr. Joe Martignetti Christopher McDonough

Michele Norman Eric Tjonahen Jay L. Webber* Dorothy A. Weber*

*Trustee Emeritus

giving time and attention to issues and matters of concern, to deepening relationships with current and new donors and friends, we deeply appreciate our

Board of Trustees for their loyal and generous commitment and efforts.

affiliates (Cont )

For posters, brochures, advertisements, websites and other marketing and positioning materials, we are recommending the use of the Harvard Medical School shield with this affiliate line. Note that “dueling shields” can actually impede communications — people do not know where to look first. We suggest separating shields and corporate logos, and making your own affiliate shield/logo more prominent. The shield and tagline for Harvard Medical School works well on the lower left of page designs.

The Baker Center for Children and Families 53 Parker Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02120 | Phone: (617) 232-8390

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AFFILIATE

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL TEACHING HOSPITAL

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL TEACHING HOSPITAL

With your support, we have the resources to provide high quality, compassionate special education and therapeutic care, parent and provider training, emergency services, and bridge the gap between science and practice through research and policy development.

To learn how you can support The Baker Center, please call (617) 512-6718 or email giving@bakercenter.org.

Thank you for making a real impact.

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AFFILIATE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL TEACHING HOSPITAL