Special to the Gazette
The Baker Center for Children and Families, a nationally recognized mental health organization dedicated to improving the quality of mental health care for children, officially unveiled its Everyone250 Historical Marker on Wednesday, June 24, joining the citywide initiative commemorating Boston’s role in the 250th anniversary of American independence. The ceremony brought together Dr. Robert Franks, President and CEO of The Baker Center; Dr. Imari Paris Jeffries of Embrace Boston; community leaders; advocates; and supporters to recognize the organization’s more than century-long legacy of advancing children’s mental health and serving families across Greater Boston.
The unveiling recognized more than a century of The Baker Center’s contributions to children’s mental health and its enduring role in serving Boston families while continuing to shape the future of care. Founded in 1917 as Judge Baker Children’s Center, The Baker Center has expanded access to care for generations of children and families across Greater Boston, providing evidence-based care, special education, and community-based mental health programs that bridge science and practice. Over more than a century, The Baker Center has helped shape the field of children’s mental health through groundbreaking innovations, including the development and testing of The Modular Approach to Therapy for Children (MATCH). MATCH is a globally recognized evidence-based therapy model that remains one of The Baker Center’s most influential contributions to mental health care.
Reflecting on The Baker Center’s historical significance and enduring impact on Boston, Dr. Robert Franks said, “History is not simply about where we’ve been, it’s about how we choose to serve, lead and build community moving forward. We are proud to be part of that story, honored in that celebration, and be part of that history of Boston.”
A parent whose son attended Manville School – The Baker Center’s therapeutic day school for those who experience emotional, neurological and/or learning difficulties – shared moving remarks about her family’s experience with the program. Historian Dart Adams also shared an overview of the site’s historical significance to the surrounding Mission Hill neighborhood and Boston’s mental health care landscape as a whole.
“The Baker Center’s support of children and families is a collaborative effort. It considers the individual. The Baker Center emphasizes treatments backed by science and research, which are proven to work through a historical track record spanning over 100 years,” said Boston historian, Dart Adams. “And not only does The Baker Center provide direct support to families, they have also trained professionals in the hopes of producing qualifying therapists who can effectively treat our youth and inform how they’re treated across the nation.”
The event comes as part of the Everyone250 Monuments and Markers initiative, which honors historically significant sites across the city and highlights underrepresented histories. The campaign brings together over 200 partner organizations across the arts, culture, and civic sectors through public art, storytelling, and community-driven programming.
“Oftentimes, we have to rely on our community institutions to be the anchor tenants of our neighborhoods. Organizations like The Baker Center have helped shape who we are as a city. Recognizing this work through Everyone250 ensures these stories, and the people and communities they’ve served remain an essential part of Boston’s history,” said Imari Paris Jeffries, President & CEO of Embrace Boston/Everyone 250.
“For more than 100 years, The Baker Center has stood alongside children and families in Boston, and this recognition reinforces the importance of preserving that legacy while continuing to build a stronger future for generations to come.” said Dr. Robert Franks, President and CEO.