In September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), awarded a grant to The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) to develop and launch the first National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services to support mental health services specifically for youth in the child welfare system and in adoptive and guardianship homes. The Baker Center is partnering with C.A.S.E. and national experts in mental health and child welfare to help ensure children, young adults, and their families who are involved in the child welfare system, and who have experienced adoption, receive the best available behavioral health care and support.
The Baker Center will be a key partner in this initiative, working with the National Center to improve the quality of care for children, young adults, and their families who are involved in the child welfare system and who have experienced adoption. The Baker Center will help build bridges between child welfare and mental health systems nationwide by improving outcomes, availability, and accessibility of adoption competent mental health services.
Through tested and proven implementation strategies and technical assistance approaches, The National Center – with extensive support from the Baker Center, will support states, tribes, and territories across the country to improve access to evidence-based care to children both in the child welfare system, as well as children impacted by the child welfare system. The aim is to address issues of separation, loss, grief, and trauma and achieve better outcomes for children and families.
Over the course of the next five years, The Baker Center will work to bring adoption competent mental health services to 30 states, tribes, and territories. According to Baker Center President and CEO, Dr. Robert Franks “This opportunity for collaboration will allow The Baker Center to work with colleagues from across the country to improve the quality of mental health services for youth in the child welfare system. It is an incredible opportunity for Baker Center faculty to use their expertise and work with other professionals and those with lived experience to build bridges between the Child Welfare and Mental Health systems and foster change at all levels of the service system."
Funded through the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau, Grant # 90CO1145
About The Baker Center for Children and Families
An affiliate of Harvard Medical School, The Baker Center for Children and Families is a nationally recognized mental health organization dedicated to improving the quality of mental health care for children (ages 2-22), families, and caregivers. Originally named Judge Baker Children’s Center, in honor of Harvey Humphrey Baker, the first judge appointed to the Boston Juvenile Court, the Center opened in 1917 and serves children and families of Greater Boston and the MetroWest region.
The Baker Center is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families by bridging the gap between science and practice to improve access to the highest quality care in community-based settings. Their life-changing mental health and special education programs include Center for Effective Therapy (CET), Manville School, Camp Baker, and Next Step: College Success & Independent Living.
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