BOSTON, MA (January 30, 2026) — The Baker Center for Children and Families has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International for a period of three years for its Center for Effective Therapy (CET), an outpatient clinic focused on short-term, high-quality, evidence-based treatment. Clients range in age from 2 to 22 and face a range of mental health challenges and learning difficulties such as trauma, depression, and anxiety. This is the first accreditation that the accrediting body, CARF International, has awarded to The Baker Center.
This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation granted by CARF and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. A provider receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has gone through a rigorous peer-review process, demonstrating to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.
“This accreditation from CARF represents The Baker Center’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of care for children and families,” said Bob Franks, President and CEO at The Baker Center for Children and Families. “As we continue to bridge science and practice at the Center for Effective Therapy, this affirms our role as a trusted resource for families and providers seeking evidence-based mental health solutions that lead to transformative, lasting results.”
The Baker Center provides high-quality mental health care for children aged 2-22, families, and caregivers. The organization 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 mental health care in community-based settings. The Center for Effective Therapy employs responsive, clinically proven techniques such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children (MATCH) to give children, teens, young adults, and families the tools they need to thrive. In 2025 alone, CET served over 900 families across more than 11,000 outpatient clinic appointments. On average, they showed considerable improvement in their mental/behavioral health challenges and were able to graduate from treatment within 6.5 months.
The Baker Center’s other life-changing mental health and special education programs include the Manville School, Camp Baker, and Next Step: College Success & Independent Living. All programs employ evidence-based treatment, interventions proven to be effective by researchers through clinical trials, leading to shorter turnarounds and lasting results.
CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of persons served.
Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org