Updates

The Baker Center, a national leader in children’s mental health, has received a 5-year grant from The National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health (a subset of the Department of Health & Human Services) to pursue research into community-driven drug prevention implementation strategies for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth in rural Hawai'i. The project is led by Dr. Kelsie Okamura, the head of The Baker Center’s Implementation Research team based in Hawai'i.

In acknowledgement of Black History Month, our Vice President of Innovation and External Affairs/Senior Diversity Officer, Dr. Gary Lyon, has prepared the following statement and declaration of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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.

There are many ways you can make a difference. Your support of The Baker Center will help us provide life-changing mental health services to children and families. We offer several different ways to give back to the community:

The Baker Center for Children & Families, a national leader in children’s mental health, has named Maria Gagnon, MSW to the role of Executive Director of The New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors. Maria succeeds Julie Springwater, MSW, who previously held the role since 1994.