HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Communications
Alex joined The Baker Center team in August of 2019. As Director of Marketing & Communications, Alex oversees all internal and external communications including collateral materials, email outreach, social media, websites, fundraising campaigns, branding, video production, and more.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Operations for the Center for Effective Therapy
Alison Last is the Director of Business Operations for The Center for Effective Therapy at The Baker Center. She works with both clinics to support the delivery of high-quality care to clients. Alison graduated from Boston University with a BA in Psychology and has worked in mental health settings for the past 17 years. Alison most recently served as Assistant Director of Operations for the Massachusetts region of a national outpatient mental health organization.
Alison has a passion for people, processes, and procedures. She has a proven track record of developing organizational structure around a fast-growing behavioral health practice. Alison strives to create a respectful and inclusive operations team by fostering collaborative and supportive relationships with all departments.
Job Titles:
- Counselor
- Co - Director of the Next Step Program
- Health Counselor
Andrew Cedrone is a licensed mental health counselor and school adjustment counselor in Wakefield Massachusetts, where he runs the therapeutic learning center at Galvin Middle School. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a B.A in Psychology and received his MEd in mental health counseling from the University of Massachusetts at Boston. Mr. Cedrone has spent his entire career supporting and teaching social emotional learning skills in school settings and consults with teaching teams and families on behavior intervention strategies and methods. He has served as the milieu coordinator at the Manville School as well as helped develop programming for the EDCO Collaborative at Brookline High School. He currently serves as a co-director of the Next Step: College Success Program.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Assistant in Training and Implementation
Angelina Ruiz, BA
Senior Program Assistant in Training and Implementation
Angelina Ruiz serves as a part-time Senior Program Assistant in Training and Implementation within the Quality Care Initiative at the Baker Center.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Assistant at the Center for Effective Therapy and Quality Care Initiative
Catherine Waye graduated from the University of Rochester with a major in Psychology and a minor in Public Health in the fall of 2019. She remained in…
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee / Bain & Company
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Administration & Operations
Christina Minassian joined The Baker Center in 2011, and as of July 2018, was named the Vice President of Administration. In September 2019, Christina assumed additional operational responsibilities and was named Vice President of Administration & Operations. Christina is responsible for executive, administrative, and communications management and support, and directs the administrative functions of The Baker Center. Her responsibilities include overseeing human resources, information technology, facilities, legal and regulatory requirements, marketing and communications. In collaboration with The Baker Center's senior leadership team, Christina helps to coordinate and oversee The Baker Center's operations and programs. She also manages relations and governance requirements for the Board of Trustees.
She originally started at The Baker Center as the executive assistant to the chief operating officer. In the summer of 2014, she assumed the additional role of the executive assistant to the president and chief executive officer. In the spring of 2015, Christina's role further expanded to become the Director of Administration. Christina has worked in administrative services for her entire career, in various industries, both for-profit and non-profit. Her most recent role prior to The Baker Center was supporting the Americas division president of a major global IT consulting firm. Earlier in her career, she supported the chief executive officer of a north shore children's mental health organization while simultaneously serving as grants manager and corporate clerk; managed client services for a learning management technology company; was the logistics leader in the education services division of a content management software company; and was an executive assistant and travel consultant at a specialized boutique travel agency in Boston.
Christina has a Bachelor of Science degree in management studies from Boston University and an MBA, with Executive concentration, from Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School.
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
- Baker Center in 2023 As the Director of Human Resources
joined the Baker Center in 2023 as the Director of Human Resources. Christine has set her professional and personal goals to be the best possible person and to create a human resources infrastructure where everyone is welcomed, valued, embraced and respected. She has been recognized by past employers with various awards ranging from Unsung Hero, Executive Director award for Excellence to recognition as Outstanding Community Employer.
From retail to academia, non-profit to government, Christine has spent the past 20+ years helping others see and achieve their potential-helping management become effective leaders and supporting organizations in their quest to deliver on their mission and vision. Through the Human Resources field, Christine found that she could "teach" without being confined to a classroom. She can work with others to create a more positive working experience.
Christine has a BA in Psychology with a minor in Education, a Masters of Education, with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling concentration - both from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA, with Business and Human Resources concentration from American Intercontinental University.
Christine D. Cannonier joined the Baker Center in 2023 as the Director of Human Resources. Christine has set her professional and personal goals to be the best possible person and to create a human resources infrastructure where everyone is welcomed, valued, embraced and respected. She has been recognized by past employers with various awards ranging from Unsung Hero, Executive Director award for Excellence to recognition as Outstanding Community Employer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee / New World Advisors, LLC
Job Titles:
- Director of Continuing Education & Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
- Psychiatrist With Expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Dr. Toppelberg is a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. He is a member of the research committee, Harvard Department of Psychiatry, and director of continuing education and the Harvard Medical School-accredited Child Mental Health Forum at the Baker Center.
Dr. Toppelberg is a practicing psychiatrist with expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurodevelopmental disabilities and a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (-2027), member Board of The American Board of Medical Specialties. He is the Psychiatrist-in-Chief for the New England Center for Children, a large, internationally recognized residential and day school for children, adolescents and young adults with ASD, developmental disabilities and severe behaviors and teaching site for Boston Children's Hospital trainees. In this role, he works closely with ABA clinical and educational staff, health services and Boston Children's Hospital pediatric specialists in neurology, GI, dentistry and others.
Dr. Toppelberg was an expert reviewer on the "Practice Parameters for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder" by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Dr. Toppelberg is a member of several medical and scientific societies, including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Society of Research in Child Development, the New England Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Medical Association.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Programs
- Vice President of Programs, Implementation, and Training Chief Psychologist
Dr. Dan Cheron is the Vice President of Programs, Implementation, and Training and Chief Psychologist at The Baker Center. He is a licensed…
is the Vice President of Programs, Implementation, and Training and Chief Psychologist The Baker Center. He is a licensed psychologist and is Board Certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. He graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in Psychology. Dr. Cheron received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Boston University, where he worked extensively researching and treating anxious children and adolescents at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD). He completed his pre-doctoral internship at the May Institute in their community-based Behavioral Health Services Division.
Dr. Cheron came to The Baker Center in September 2010 to complete his postdoctoral fellowship with John Weisz, Ph.D., ABPP, where he worked on multiple grant-funded projects investigating the effectiveness of evidence-based treatments for youth with anxiety, depression, disruptive behavior, and traumatic stress in community mental health clinics across New England. He now continues his work at The Baker Center as Vice President of Programs, Implementation, and Training. Dr. Cheron currently directs a multi-site investigation of the training and dissemination of evidence-based treatments to youth mental health providers in the communities surrounding Boston and developing progress monitoring systems to inform psychotherapy practice.
Dr. Cheron specializes in the assessment and treatment of youth anxiety disorders and traumatic stress, and he has significant experience in the use of empirically-based interventions for depression and disruptive behavior problems in children and adolescents. He is the author and co-author of multiple journal articles and book chapters on the topic of anxiety disorders in children and he lectures to local schools and parent organizations about youth mental health treatment. Dr. Cheron is an active member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and regularly presents his research at annual conferences.
Dr. Dan Cheron is the Vice President of Programs, Implementation, and Training and Chief Psychologist The Baker Center. He is a licensed psychologist and is Board Certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. He graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in Psychology. Dr. Cheron received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Boston University, where he worked extensively researching and treating anxious children and adolescents at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD). He completed his pre-doctoral internship at the May Institute in their community-based Behavioral Health Services Division.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Second Vice - Chair Treasurer, Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of the Manville School
has over 14 years of experience working in private special education schools in Massachusetts. Prior to serving as Director of the Manville School, David spent four years working as Manville's Admissions Director and Public School Liaison, interacting daily with students, families and districts.
David came to Manville in 2018 after three years leading the Walker Beacon School, including two years as Principal. David brings extensive experience in special education and leading teams of teachers and clinicians to educate and support students with significant social/emotional, behavioral, and learning needs.
David's skill, knowledge and commitment to Manville's students, families, and staff make him the ideal person to lead Manville School into the future. David is a licensed Special Education Administrator.
Devyn is a highly motivated licensed educator with a strong commitment to community service with her Master's in Education. She joined the Baker…
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Emeritus Trustee / Community Volunteer
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Director
Dr. Amanda E. Lyall is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, with affiliations at Brigham and Women's…
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Senior Diversity Officer
- Vice President of Innovation and External Affairs Senior Diversity Officer
is the Vice President of Innovation and External Affairs/Senior Diversity Officer of The Baker Center. His role is to collaborate with the CEO, VP of Programs, and senior management team to drive innovation in children's behavioral health and special education. Dr. Lyon also acts as an external liaison representing JBCC in local, regional, and national venues. Also, as a Senior Diversity Officer (SDO), he is responsible for developing organization-wide diversity and inclusion programs. In addition, he works with senior management and Human Resources to conduct organization-wide training, promote diversity and inclusion, resolve challenges and conflicts, and establish metrics to measure progress towards goals.
Dr. Lyon earned his B.S. in Business Management from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the top-ranked and the largest HBCU (Historically Black Colleges Universities) in the country. As he obtained his bachelor's, Dr. Lyon had an early start working in management within the nonprofit sector. Later in his early career in nonprofit management, he completed his Master's in Public Administration from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts. He then completed his doctorate in Education with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Lyon has been working in nonprofit management for over 20 years. He has a vast amount of experience and knowledge in the nonprofit sector. He has an openness and desire to share his expertise at The Baker Center. Dr. Lyon also specializes in diversity equity and inclusion. His dissertation focused on social identity and fostering inclusion in the workplace. He hopes to teach and train core concepts related to diversity, equity and inclusion by utilizing evidence-based tools and guidelines to assist The Baker Center in becoming a multicultural organization.
Dr. Gary R. Lyon is the Vice President of Innovation and External Affairs/Senior Diversity Officer of The Baker Center. His role is to collaborate with the CEO, VP of Programs, and senior management team to drive innovation in children's behavioral health and special education. Dr. Lyon also acts as an external liaison representing JBCC in local, regional, and national venues. Also, as a Senior Diversity Officer (SDO), he is responsible for developing organization-wide diversity and inclusion programs. In addition, he works with senior management and Human Resources to conduct organization-wide training, promote diversity and inclusion, resolve challenges and conflicts, and establish metrics to measure progress towards goals.
Job Titles:
- Associate, and Clinical Trainer for QCI
Dr. Jessie Fitts is a staff psychologist, implementation associate, and clinical trainer for QCI. Jessie has a doctoral degree in Clinical and…
Dr. Katherine Corteselli is a Postdoctoral Fellow at The Baker Center within the Center for Effective Therapy and the Quality Care Initiative. Dr.…
Dr. Marek Kubicki is a trained Radiologist, Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School. He is neuroimaging…
Dr. Martha E. Shenton is Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Founding Director of the…
Job Titles:
- Associate, and Clinical Trainer for the Quality Care Initiative
Dr. Michelle Alto is a staff psychologist, implementation associate, and clinical trainer for the Quality Care Initiative. She completed her doctorate…
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Director of Implementation and Associate Director of Training at the Baker Center
Dr. Rachel Kim is the Director of Implementation and Associate Director of Training at The Baker Center. Dr. Kim graduated magna cum laude from Tufts…
is the Director of Implementation and Associate Director of Training at The Baker Center. Dr. Kim graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University with her B.A. in clinical psychology and Spanish. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology with a clinical concentration from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Kim completed her clinical internship at Pacific Clinics, a community mental health agency in the greater Los Angeles area.
Dr. Kim has experience working with a range of mental health challenges for children, adolescents, and adults, in a variety of settings, such as community-based mental health agencies, a hospital-affiliated outpatient specialty clinics, and schools. She has training in evidence-based models for, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Aggression Replacement Therapy (ART). She is a certified therapist in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Managing and Adapting Practices (MAP). She is also an associate trainer for MATCH-ADTC. As part of The Baker Center's Quality Care Initiative, Dr. Kim provides training, consultation, and implementation support in MATCH-ADTC to community mental health agencies.
Dr. Kim's program of research has focused on the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practice (EBPs) for underserved youth in community settings. In her dissertation, Dr. Kim examined the role of treatment engagement in the context of systems implementing EBPs. She co-developed a pilot initial engagement training protocol for school nurses to utilize with adolescents presenting with mental health concerns in a large, urban school district. Dr. Kim has presented her work at national conferences and is a member for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- President
- President and Chief Executive Officer / the Baker Center
- President and Chief Executive Officer of the Baker Center
Dr. Robert P. Franks is president and Chief Executive Officer of The Baker Center and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Franks, a leader in the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based practices in children's mental health, holds a master's degree from George Washington University and a Ph.D. from Boston College. He completed his clinical training and doctoral fellowship in child psychology at the Yale University Child Study Center in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Franks has served on the faculties of the Yale University School of Medicine, the University of Connecticut Health Center, and the Duke University Medical Center.
Dr. Franks has worked in academic settings, non-profit institutions, medical centers, and the community to improve the quality of behavioral health care for children and families. He has worked across multiple child-serving sectors at the local and national levels including pediatrics, behavioral health, education, juvenile justice, and child welfare. Over the course of his career, he has led numerous statewide workforce development initiatives to implement a wide range of best and evidence-based practices and programs. His work has helped bridge the gap between research and practice and improved access to high-quality care for thousands of families. Dr. Franks is recognized as a national expert on the dissemination, implementation, and sustainment of best practices in behavioral health.
As CEO of The Baker Center, Dr. Franks works at the policy, systems, and practice levels to create sustainable change and improve access to quality behavioral health care leading to lifelong positive outcomes for children and families in Massachusetts and beyond. Dr. Franks is further establishing The Baker Center as a national leader in children's mental health and works collaboratively with partners locally and nationally at the policy, systems and practice levels to advance quality care that has been proven to help children and families.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
- Senior Director of Outpatient Clinical Services at the Baker Center for Children
Dr. Sarah Tannenbaum is the Senior Director of Outpatient Clinical Services at The Baker Center for Children and Families. She has strategic and operational oversight of Baker's outpatient programs, including the Center for Effective Therapy, a clinic providing mental health assessments and focused short-term treatments for children and their families; Camp Baker, a Summer Treatment Program for children with ADHD; and the Next Step: College Success and Independent Living Program, a college preparatory program for transitional aged youth with social communication deficits. Dr. Tannenbaum is a board-certified child and adolescent clinical psychologist and Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Tannenbaum is an active member of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), of PCIT International, and of Division 53 (Clinical Child Psychology) of the American Psychological Association.
Dr. William Beardslee directs the Preventive Intervention Project as well as the Prevention of Depression Study at The Baker Center. He has served as the Academic Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Children's Hospital Boston and is the Gardner-Monks Professor of Child Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. In 1998, Dr. Beardslee was appointed to the faculty at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Beardslee's long-standing research interest has centered on the development of children who are at risk due to severe parental mental illness and focuses on the ways in which self-understanding helps individuals cope with adversity. His early work describes civil rights workers and how they were able to endure and indeed significantly change the South. He studied resilience in survivors of cancer and in children of depressed parents that led to the development of effective public health interventions for families facing depression, and a ten year randomized trial examination of the two strategies which showed that they were safe and led to lasting gains. This approach has since received high ratings in the National Registry of Effective Programs and is being disseminated widely in Finland, Norway, Costa Rica, and in programs in this country. Dr. Beardslee is currently directing a long-range study at The Baker Center funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) that explores the effects of clinician-facilitated, family-based preventive intervention. This research is designed to gauge the impact of direct intervention and measure its ability to enhance resilience and family understanding for children of parents with affective disorder. In June 2002, Dr. Beardslee published a book for families and lay caregivers about the process of dealing with depression: Out of the Darkened Room: Protecting the Children and Strengthening the Family When a Parent Is Depressed (Little, Brown and Company).
Dr. Beardslee received his B.A. from Haverford College and his M.D. from Case Western Reserve University. His postdoctoral training took place at Moffett Hospital/University of California Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute.
Senior Research Advisor; Principal Investigator, TEAMS; Director, Preventive Intervention Project
Job Titles:
- Director of Family Engagement & Support
As the Director of Family Engagement and Support, Ellen strives to bring caregiver voice and perspective into all aspects of the Manville School, as well as build a supportive community for Manville caregivers. For the past 12 years Ellen has worked with children and families as a member of the clinical department at Manville. Ellen first came to Manville as a clinical intern before joining the staff as a full-time clinician. Ellen served as a clinical coordinator before moving into her current role. Prior to Manville, Ellen worked in outdoor education with the organization Outward Bound. Her work there with at-risk youth and their families inspired her to enter Boston University's dual degree program in Social Work and Special Education. Ellen is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and is fluent in Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee / Pediatric Associates
Harvey Humphrey Baker was appointed the first judge of the Boston Juvenile Court in 1906. Judge Baker believed strongly that there was more to "juvenile delinquency" than just a "bad kid." He wanted to create a place where research and treatment could help these children and their families.
The "Judge Baker Foundation" was incorporated in 1917 and the first offices for the Foundation were established on Court Street in Boston. The original focus of Judge Baker was on diagnostic studies and treatment recommendations for "delinquent" boys and girls brought into the Boston Juvenile Court.
President Herbert Hoover invited Judge Baker leaders to the "White House Conference on Child Health and Protection". By that time, Judge Baker was moving to its own building on Beacon Street in Boston and more than 7,000 children and their families had received services.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Emeritus Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee / Martignetti Construction
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Chairman, Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Director of Clinical Operations for the Outpatient Clinics at the Baker Center
is the Director of Clinical Operations for the outpatient clinics at The Baker Center. Kate works with both clinics to support business and clinical operations. Kate graduated from the University of Vermont with a BA in Psychology and went on to receive a Masters in Social Work from Simmons University. In 2019, Kate completed her MBA at Simmons University and graduated as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society. Kate has worked with children and adolescents as a clinical social worker for over ten years in direct care and leadership roles in residential and outpatient settings.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Development
- the Baker Center in 2023 As the Senior Director of Development
joined The Baker Center in 2023 as the Senior Director of Development. Katie is responsible for overseeing all fundraising and special event activities for The Baker Center, including the Annual Fund, The Baker SuperK Walk, Roll & Fun Run, the annual golf tournament, and the Hopes and Dreams Gala.
Katie has worked in non-profit fundraising for more than twenty years and is passionate about being part of an organization dedicated to helping children and families in the community. Katie began her career at Rosie's Place where she honed a deep understanding of a wide range of fundraising efforts with proven success. Her most recent role prior to The Baker Center was at Cradles to Crayons as the Senior Director of Development. As part of the organization's leadership team, she built a strong fundraising department, specializing in soliciting major gifts, corporate support, grant management, volunteer engagement, and special events.
Katie has a Bachelor of Science, Business: Marketing/Advertising degree from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.
Job Titles:
- Implementation and Quality Improvement Specialist
Katie Haupt has been an Implementation and Quality Improvement Specialist at the Baker Center since July 2022. She is originally from San Diego and…
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director of the Manville School
Dr. Shapiro is thrilled to join the leadership team as Clinical Director at the Manville School. Prior to taking on this role, Dr. Shapiro worked as a staff psychologist where her work included case management, psychological assessment, and individual and group therapy. She also worked as the Clinical Coordinator for Manville's Middle School 2 program where she supervised clinicians, oversaw the social emotional learning curriculum, and provided clinical support to students in crisis.
Prior to her work at Manville, Dr. Shapiro was the Director of Training for McLean-Franciscan's Community Based Acute Treatment (CBAT) and Child & Adolescent Inpatient practicum student training programs. She also worked as a staff psychologist for the Inpatient program, where she offered staff training, managed the group therapy program, and provided individual therapy, parent coaching, brief psychological assessment, and team consultation. Dr. Shapiro has worked in hospital, residential, outpatient and school settings, and has experience working with a range of acute psychiatric presentations, including mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, personality disorders, and trauma. She has expertise in crisis management with a specific interest in suicidality and how to work with individuals in psychiatric distress.
Additionally, Dr. Shapiro has experience with several evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). She is currently working towards her certification in the Modular Approach to Treatment for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma or Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADTC). Dr. Shapiro earned her Master of Arts and Doctorate of Philosophy in School Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her APA doctoral internship at Andrus Children's Center and postdoctoral fellowship at Salem Hospital/Mass General Brigham.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee / Bristol Myers Squibb
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- First Vice - Chair, Board of Trustees / DiCicco, Gulman & Company LLP
Job Titles:
- Implementation Science Program Assistant
Lucy Khaner is an Implementation Science Program Assistant for the Quality Care Initiative at the Baker Center. She graduated from Colgate University…
Job Titles:
- Director of the Quality Care Initiative
- Senior Director of the Massachusetts Child Abuse Emergency Line
Marcy attended Brandeis University and earned her MSW from the Boston University School of Social Work with a specialization in human services management. Most recently she served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program, including MCPAP and MCPAP for Moms. Marcy has combined experience in both community-based behavioral health and community health centers through her leadership roles at South Shore Mental Health, BIDMC's Community Care Alliance, and Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center. She was responsible for creating new partnerships and collaborations, increasing visibility and accessibility of services, and worked toward integrating behavioral health and primary care at each of these organizations. Marcy also served as Associate Director of Policy and Research at the BCBSMA Foundation, where she was responsible for developing a statewide agenda for children's behavioral health policy and produced the state's first workforce capacity assessment of psychiatrists and behavioral health clinicians.
Marcy is passionate about positioning behavioral health as a public health issue, fighting stigma, and improving access to high quality behavioral health services.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, NEACWCD
Maria has spent more than 30 years in leadership roles within the non-profit and public sectors. She currently serves as Executive Director for the NEACWCD. In this role, she facilitates collaborative learning opportunities for members of the NEACWCD, works closely with partners on child welfare transformation efforts and oversees agency programs that seek to engage youth as leaders with lived expertise in change initiatives. In addition, she serves as a resource to member agencies on child welfare policy and practice.
Prior to joining NEACWCD, Maria served as Chief Operating Officer for Waypoint, a social service agency providing evidence-based interventions to vulnerable populations in the state of New Hampshire. Maria oversaw the implementation of 28 distinct programs in the areas of early childhood development, child welfare, homeless youth, human trafficking, behavioral health, supervised visitation, and senior home care. Maria led a vibrant management team, building staff capacity through development, coaching and mentoring. A variety of evidence-based practices were implemented at the agency during her tenure including Healthy Families America, Parents as Teachers, Parent Child Psychotherapy, Reflective Supervision, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Assertive Community Reinforcement Approach. Maria has led agencies and system change efforts focused on child abuse prevention and intervention, adolescent addiction treatment and adolescent behavioral health.
Outside of work, Maria enjoys most outdoor activities including camping, kayaking, and days at the beach. She is most often seen outside walking her two dogs or sitting outside reading a book.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Baker Center 's Evidence
- Director of the Evidence - Based Policy Institute
is the Director of The Baker Center's Evidence-based Policy Institute (EBPI) and has been with the EBPI since its inception in 2016. In his role, Matt works alongside The Baker Center's VP of Innovation and External Affairs Gary Lyon, and CEO Robert Franks to lead the EBPI's policy and systems-focused initiatives. Matt and the EBPI work with national, state, and community partners to explore pressing issues impacting children and families, using research and community voices to identify actionable, evidence-based solutions at the policy, systems, and practice levels.
A macro social worker by training, Matt specializes in evidence-based policymaking and systems development. Matt holds a BA in philosophy from Fairfield University and a Master's in Social Work from Boston College.
Job Titles:
- Co - Director of the Next Step Program Speech - Language Pathologist at the Manville School
Job Titles:
- Implementation and Quality Improvement Specialist
Michaela Harris has been an Implementation and Quality Improvement Specialist at the Baker Center since February 2022. She is originally from…
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Ms. Rodriguez has been with The Baker Center for 20 plus years with increasing level of responsibility and became the Facilities Manager in September 1999. Currently, as Judge Baker's Facilities Director, Ms. Rodriguez provides oversight, overall supervision, and coordination of the maintenance, housekeeping, purchasing, security, and management of The Baker Center's building, equipment and grounds.
She defines the mission of the Facilities Department (Facilities) as follows: to provide a clean, safe, and healthy work environment for the Center and the children it serves and to provide and maintain the materials that keep the building's activities running smoothly. Ms. Rodriguez ensures that the building and grounds are in compliance with all building code, health safety, and licensing requirements.
During the remodel and move to the new facility at Parker Hill, she coordinated her department with architects, contractors, and Judge Baker staff to help make the transition to the new building as painless as possible. She monitored the rehabilitation of the building ensuring it was appropriate for the staff and children we serve in terms of convenience and safety, for compliance to all codes, licensure and certificate of inspections. She attended weekly meetings to ensure schedule timelines for the completion of the renovation. Arranged for all new office furniture, designed and set up each office before staff moved in.
Ms. Rodriguez reaches out to The Baker Center neighbors and surrounding community, in order to coordinate construction plans and to develop disaster and evacuation plans. She continues to update her knowledge of her field by attending pertinent courses and seminars.
Job Titles:
- Implementation and Quality Improvement Specialist
Noémie Bechu started working at the Baker Center in August 2022 as an Implementation and Quality Improvement Specialist. She graduated from the dual…
Job Titles:
- Director of Information Technology
joined The Baker Center in 2012, and in 2019 was named Director of Information Technology. Philip supports all aspects of IT operations for Judge Baker Children's Center, including the Manville School, the Massachusetts Child Abuse Emergency Line, and all other programs. Previously the Manager of IT for The Baker Center, Philip's role was expanded when he became a member of the Operations Team. With a long history of progressive IT functions for over 20 years, he brings a big company outlook to The Baker Center's small, but effective, IT department. Formerly the Manager of IT Operations for Harte Hanks, Philip was in charge of the 10,000 sq/ ft. production data center for Harte Hanks. Philip started his career in IT as a Language Support Representative for Microsoft, working directly with Microsoft engineers in the development and support of Visual Basic.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Assistant Clerk, Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Implementation
Sean E. Snyder, DPA, MSW, LCSW comes from Penn Medicine with a nearly a decade of experience spanning clinical practice, supervision, and program…
Job Titles:
- Implementation Research Assistant
Summer Pascual (she/her) is an Implementation Research Assistant at The Baker Center for Children and Families, Implementation Research Division.…
Job Titles:
- Principal of the Manville School
Tara is a native of Boston, MA, and a graduate of Natick High School. She is excited to be back home and be able to support the children and families of Massachusetts. Tara spent the last 21 years dedicated to serving the children of New York City in various capacities: seven years in child welfare/child protection and 15 years with the New York City Department of Education, serving as a Special Education Teacher, PBIS Coordinator, a Special Education Administrator/Borough Manager for ASD Programs, Assistant Principal, and Director of Special Education. Tara brings a wealth of experience related, but not limited to, special education, behavioral support, classroom management, curriculum writing, and educational leadership. Tara holds a master's degree in special education from Pace University and has certificates of advanced studies from the College of Saint Rose and Harvard University, where she completed the Leading for Equity and Excellence program. Tara is also a Member of the DESE Influence 100 Program for emerging school district leaders with a particular focus on equity.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee / Bain & Company
Job Titles:
- Implementation Science Program Assistant
Vanessa Liang graduated Magna Cum Laude at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in the College of Social Sciences Department. She earned two bachelor's…