FALL 2019 & A Look Back at SUMMER 2019
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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NEWS & RESEARCH
A Brand
New Camp Baker
President's Corner
Does Therapy Work?
Attending College With Social Communication Deficit
Parts 1 & 2
Judge Baker Welcomes
Jayesh Bhansali and
David Schwartz
to the Board of Trustees
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FROM
JUDGE BAKER
The Evidence-Based Policy Institute
at Judge Baker Children’s Center
Offers Expert Testimony to State Legislature
14th Annual Golf Tournament
Autism Speaks Awards Summer Camp Grant
to JBCC to Fund the Next Step College Success Program
Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism
Interviews
Next Step Alumni
Donor Spotlight: Tom Bishop
New Staff Spotlight
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MANVILLE SCHOOL
Introducing the
Manville School
Zen Garden
Manville School Students
Visit the Biogen Lab
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Hopes & Dreams
Gala 2019
Social Pragmatics Groups at
the Center for Effective Child Therapy (CECT)
Child Mental
Health Forums
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OUR SERVICES
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A new name, logo, and location are just a few of the many changes that came with the newly transformed
Camp Baker
. Keep scrolling to read the full story and get up to speed!
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Last year, the long-standing Summer Enrichment Institute was transformed into
Camp Baker
. With a new name came a new website, logo, and location at the beautiful Hale Reservation in Westwood, MA.
Camp Baker is specifically designed to help kids with ADHD and other behavioral issues manage their symptoms while still providing a typical summer camp environment. Campers can expect to participate in activities such as swimming, sports, arts & crafts, kayaking, and more. Skill building and other techniques are implemented during these activities to make sure campers not only have fun, but meet their social development goals as well.
This May we were thrilled to offer an open house displaying the new campsite for campers, family members, friends, and JBCC staff. Those in attendance got an exclusive look at the new location before the program officially started in July.
Guests enjoyed walking tours of the camp site, seeing firsthand the lush, woodsy foot trails and swimming area with docks and canoes. Everyone mingled over refreshments and lawn games, and even went home that evening with brand new Camp Baker swag!
Needless to say, the anticipation for starting the 2019 program was high. Parents and their future campers would only have to wait a few short weeks until the 2019 Camp Baker program began in July.
On July 10th, new and returning campers began their 6 week journey. While lots of fun was had playing outdoor games, going on hikes, and swimming, there was also time to engage in academics. Kids with ADHD are at risk of developing academic regression while out of school for the entire summer. Having daily structured academic periods at Camp Baker can help decrease this risk and ensure kids come back to school in Fall feeling prepared and capable.
The 6 weeks flew by, and while it was difficult to say goodbye, this year's campers left feeling more prepared to tackle school with new skills and new friends.
While the name and location of Camp Baker has changed, it's evident that the massive level of engagement, skill building, and fun parents have come to expect have remained the same. We can't wait to see what the summer 2020 program will bring!
Registration officially opens January 1st, 2020.
Visit
the Camp Baker website
to apply.
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What Parents Are Saying About Camp Baker
"To stop feeling failure as a parent and to know you are not alone, attend Camp Baker. There will be connection regardless of ethnic background if you’re willing to be honest with your struggles as a parent and your child’s needs."
"Camp Baker was filled with people who met my child where he was at that moment, heard him and understood him, appreciated him. Coming from an environment in which he was barely tolerated, this was exactly the therapeutic setting he needed."
"Camp Baker provided us effective tools and family-wide healing. The staff was enthusiastic and treated my child with respect, compassion, and understanding."
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Did your child attend Camp Baker this summer?
Click here*
to access weekly updates and photo galleries for all 6 weeks of the program!
*Please note that access to this content is password protected and limited only to parents/care givers of Summer 2019 campers
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Robert P. Franks, PhD
President & CEO
The time of change is in the air as children go back to school, the leaves begin to change and fall and the last memories of summer begin to fade as we prepare for the year ahead. During this time of change, there can be additional stress in families’ lives. The pressures of school, hectic schedules, and managing family and extracurricular activities can be challenging. Every year, as our families grow and become older, we face new challenges. Sometimes we may not feel equipped to deal with the challenges before us and they may test our abilities as parents, caregivers, spouses, and friends...
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DOES THERAPY WORK?
Nancy K. Gajee, Ph.D. &
Matthew J. Pecoraro, MSW
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From May 5th to May 11th we celebrated Children’s Mental Health Awareness week. This annual event invites us to reflect on the ways we can help children grow, learn, and thrive - especially the one-in-five children that the CDC reports struggle with diagnosable mental health concerns.** Here we address some common questions we’ve heard parents, teachers, and even youth ask about ways therapy can help when children struggle with emotional and behavioral issues...
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ATTENDING COLLEGE WITH SOCIAL COMMUNICATION DEFICIT PARTS 1 & 2
Jeffrey Hodnett
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At an early age James* was diagnosed with ADHD and General Anxiety Disorder. After struggling to succeed in a public school setting, he attended a private high school where he was able to complete his studies in 4 years and graduate with his class in the spring of 2016...
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Judge Baker Welcomes Jayesh Bhansali and
David Schwartz to the Board of Trustees
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Judge Baker Children’s Center (Judge Baker), a national leader in children’s mental health, announced that it recently elected Jayesh D. Bhansali, Chief Investment Officer for IRIQIV, an investment advisory firm and David A. Schwartz, a practicing attorney in Cambridge, to its Board of Trustees...
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FROM JUDGE BAKER CHILDREN'S CENTER
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The Evidence-Based Policy Institute at Judge Baker Children’s Center Offers Expert Testimony to State Legislature
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The Evidence-based Policy Institute at Judge Baker Children’s Center was invited to offer expert testimony at two separate legislative hearings in June. At the first, held Monday, June 24th, Nancy Gajee, PhD, Judge Baker’s Director of Outpatient Clinical Services, addressed...
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14th Annual Golf Tournament
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Judge Baker’s 14th Annual Liberty Mutual Insurance Invitational Golf Tournament was held on Monday, June 10th at Walpole Country Club. It was a perfect day – the weather was beautiful and we were joined by an enthusiastic group of golfers, including our Trustees and staff. Thank you to everyone that participated! Your support helped raise over $100,000 in support of the children and families served by Judge Baker Children’s Center.
For those unable to attend, you may view a photo gallery of the event
by clicking here.
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Autism Speaks Awards Summer Camp Grant to JBCC to Fund the Next Step: College Success Program
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Celebrating left to right: Dr. Nancy Gajee, Director of Outpatient Clinical Services; Val MacIver, Next Step Intern; Matt Arnold, Co-Director, Next Step; Jill Precopio, Executive Director and Cassie Woodes, Coordinator, Field Development, both of the
Autism Speaks New England Chapter
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Autism Speaks has awarded a Summer Camp Grant to Judge Baker Children's Center to help fund the
Next Step: College Success program
.
This grant is crucial in helping us continue to develop the program and we're so thankful to have been selected!
The goal of Next Step is to provide critical opportunities to those with social communication deficits who are serious about pursuing higher education. The program aims to afford students a chance to hone executive functioning, problem-solving, and self-advocacy skills that are necessary for living with other students on a college campus.
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Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism
Interviews Next Step Alumni
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From left to right shown in front of Doug Sr.’s famous statue: Representing Judge Baker Children's Center, Dr. Nancy Gajee, Director of Outpatient Clinical Services, Matt Arnold, Next Step Co-Director, and Val MacIver, Next Step alumni and intern. Representing Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Lisa Collins, Director of Programs, and Nick Savarese, Executive Director.
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Tom Bishop
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How did you first become involved with JBCC?
I first got involved with Judge Baker because of my longstanding professional relationship with two trustees, one of whom is the current Board Chair. They approached me about getting involved and then invited me to the annual Golf tournament. That event was great and provided an opportunity to meet other supporters and learn about the organization’s mission. I was so impressed with everyone I met, including the staff and parents in the Judge Baker community. But what really drew me in was the fact that two people who I highly respected were so committed and passionate about the work of Judge Baker. Their stamp of approval made the decision to get involved an easy one.
What inspired your first gift?
I was really impressed by the leadership of CEO Bob Franks and the focus that he brought to the organization. Bob and the Board are terrific stewards of the organization’s finances and are laser focused on the mission. Bob’s vision for addressing children’s mental health care gave me the confidence that my donation would be used effectively and would have a meaningful impact.
Why does children’s mental health matter to you?
A child struggling with mental health issues doesn’t struggle alone. Their family is derailed. I heard this over and over from the parents and caregivers supported at Judge Baker. I also heard from them that their child had never experienced success and friendship until they came to Judge Baker. The thought of children and their families finding joy again together took my breath away. I really believe that Judge Baker gives people their families back and that changes lives. Talk about impact!
What part of our work interests you the most?
I am most excited about the way that Judge Baker has grown under the leadership of Bob Franks while never straying from their mission. And the enthusiasm and commitment of the staff blows me away! The focus is always on how can Judge Baker best support kids struggling with mental health and special education challenges – and how can we do it better, reaching as many kids as possible? It’s hard for me to say what interests me most because I am impressed by so many aspects of their work. I admire their policy efforts because of the big impact of that work, but equally admire their direct services because I know from parents that Judge Baker changes lives one child at a time.
What legacy do you want to leave/impact would you like to have?
If anything, I would like to change the trajectory of our fundraising efforts. I signed on as Development Chair and continue to prioritize Judge Baker in my charitable giving because providing the highest quality care to children takes money. I want to help build up a robust endowment so this life changing organization can continue to grow and reach more and more children and families.
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Nancy Gajee, PhD
Nancy joined Judge Baker Children's Center in March of 2019 a
s
Director of Outpatient Clinical Services.
In her 12 years at May Institute, Nancy served as Senior Director of Special Projects and Director of Clinical Training for the APA-accredited doctoral internship program. She developed an effective toolkit, in partnership with Work Inc., to enable high-functioning young adults with autism spectrum disorder to enter the workforce and manage anxiety. She was previously Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services and oversaw outpatient programs across three community mental health clinics in eastern Massachusetts. She also served on the Institutional Review Board, was a founding member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council, and directed a multi-family group program and school-based counseling initiative. Nancy graduated with her B.A. from Columbia University and obtained her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University at Albany, State University of New York. She completed her internship and post-doctoral training at May Institute.
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Maria Gagnon, MSW
Maria joined Judge Baker Children's Center in April of 2019 as
Program Director for the New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors (NEACWCD).
She holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire and serves on multiple boards and work boards, many which aim to improve the child welfare system. She recently worked as Chief Operating Officer for Child and Family Services.
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Susan Ring Brown
Susan Ring Brown joined Judge Baker Children’s Center in April 2019 as
Grant & Foundation Relations Manager.
Prior to joining Judge Baker, Susan was the Chief Development Officer for Northeast Arc, a $250 Million nonprofit annually supporting 10,000 people with disabilities and their families.
A seasoned professional with 25 years of development experience, she has a passion for relationship building and empowering individuals and families to lead their best lives. Susan earned her BA in Journalism/Political Science from UMass Amherst and her Master’s in Public Affairs from the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass Boston.
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Amy Doyle
Amy joined Judge Baker Children's Center in April of 2019 as
Quality Improvement Coordinator.
She has an educational and professional background in social work and public health. She also previously worked as a clinical research coordinator. Amy is from upstate New York, but has lived in Boston for a decade.
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Allison Smith
Allison joined Judge Baker Children's Center in July of 2019 as
Administrative Assistant at the Manville School.
Allison holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and previously worked as a Behavior Interventionist.
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Erica Champney
Erica joined Judge Baker Children's Center in July of 2019 as
Practice Manager at the Center for Effective Child Therapy (CECT).
Erica is a graduate of Saint Joseph's college and is currently enrolled in a Master's program in Healthcare Administration at Regis College. She previously worked as a nationally certified EMT, medical officer manager, practice assistant, and office coordinator at the Best Doctors regional office.
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Alex Bahrawy, MBA
Alex joined Judge Baker Children's Center in August of 2019 as
Marketing & Communications Specialist.
Alex has an extensive background in mental health with experience ranging from direct care as a case manager to the marketing and development of mental health programs. He holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology as well as a MBA with a concentration in Non-Profit Management.
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Introducing the Manville School
Zen Garden
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Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and our amazing facilities team, we are so excited to open our beautiful new Zen Garden for our
Manville School
students. This amazing space will provide a quiet and restful area for our students and staff to relax and unwind.
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Manville School Students Visit
the Biogen Lab
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This year Judge Baker's
Manville School
had a record breaking number of students and classes visit the Biogen lab over a period of 2 days. Biology students from our Upper School honed in their 21st century biotechnology skills at the state of the art Community Lab where they investigated, “The Mystery of the Crooked Cell”.
Our student researchers performed gel electrophoresis to diagnose their patient’s DNA, while in the process discovering their patient’s genotypes for sickle cell anemia. They then used Claim-Evidence-Reasoning skills to explain their findings. Since 2002 the Cambridge Community Lab has reached out to over 25,000 students around Boston with free STEM programming.
Thank you, Biogen!
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Please join us on
Saturday, October 19th
for Judge Baker Children’s Center’s biennial Hopes and Dreams Gala at the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. We look forward to honoring
Richard D. Glovsky
and celebrating Judge Baker Children’s Center’s commitment to children’s mental health care. Event Chairs
Julie and Joe Bradley
and
Daniele and John Serafini
have planned a fabulous night of fun and entertainment, with a menu curated by
Honorary Chef Gordon Hamersley.
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UPCOMING CHILD MENTAL HEALTH FORUMS:
- November 6, 2019 - [Topic: Educational and Developmental Ecosystems for Children and Youth; Title: TBA]
Jonathan Zaff, PhD
Research Professor in Applied Human Development
Director, CERES Institute for Children and Family
Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
- December 4, 2019 - The MOMS Partnership Partnering with communities to use neurobiological and behavioral sciences to address maternal depression
Megan Smith, DrPH, MPH
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry and in the Yale Child Study Center
Yale School of Medicine
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Social Pragmatics Groups at
the Center for Effective Child Therapy (CECT)
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This Initiative works to create lasting improvements in the quality of mental health care and other services for all children and families. Our expert staff works collaboratively with families, service providers, schools, state agencies, academic institutions, and funding organizations to help ensure that all children and families have access to the highest quality care. Our
Department of Evaluation
works to improve the quality of child and family behavioral health and special education services by using rigorous and context-sensitive evaluation and research strategies.
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A clinic that provides mental health assessments and focused short-term treatments for children and their families, using only evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which have been scientifically proven to work.
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Learn about Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a scientifically proven training program that works with caregivers to enhance parenting techniques for use with their children. PCIT is for children ages 2 to 7 with emotional and behavioral problems.
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A therapeutic day school for students from kindergarten through 10th grade who experience emotional, neurological, or learning difficulties that have impacted their ability to succeed in previous school settings.
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A fun, therapeutic camp for children ages 6-12 with ADHD based at Hale Reservation in Westwood, MA. Read more about Camp Baker in our feature section above.
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Designed for students, ages 16 - 20, who present with a social language deficit and are serious about attending college after high school. This program is appropriate for young adults with Asperger's Syndrome, NLD, or related learning differences. Next Step consists of Saturday day-long sessions throughout the academic year, as well as a week-long overnight dormitory experience based at Boston College.
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We are a nationally recognized institution providing professional training that has developed leaders in the field of mental health and special education for nearly 100 years. Our approach to professional training helps improve the quality of services for children and their families by developing trainees into outstanding professionals
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53 Parker Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02120-3225
Phone: (617) 232-8390 Fax: (617) 232-8399
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