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Judge Baker Childrens Center

EIN 04-2103860 · Roxbury, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JUDGE BAKER CHILDREN'S CENTER PROMOTES THE BEST POSSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF RESEARCH, INTERVENTION, TRAINING AND ADVOCACY. THROUGH THE RESEARCH WE IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES. THROUGH INTERVENTION WE BRING THOSE PRACTICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THROUGH TRAINING WE DISSEMINATE SKILLS IN RESEARCH AND QUALITY CARE. THROUGH ADVOCACY WE USE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE TO EXPAND PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INFORM PUBLIC POLICY.

Income
$31.1 million
Spending
$33.6 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 86%
Employees
385
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$508,468, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $13.6 million spent. SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS AT THE BAKER CENTER CONSIST OF THE MANVILLE SCHOOL, A THERAPEUTIC DAY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN (AGES 4-18) EXPERIENCING COMPLEX EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, NEUROLOGICAL AND LEARNING DISABILITIES THAT IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN OTHER SCHOOL SETTINGS. EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN ACHIEVE EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND PERSONAL OUTCOMES THROUGH MANVILLE'S EVIDENCE-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL, CLINICAL, AND BEHAVIORAL PRACTICES.
  2. $5.9 million spent. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AT THE BAKER CENTER CONSIST OF CAMP BAKER, NEXT STEP: COLLEGE SUCCESS & INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND THE MASSACHUSETTS CHILD ABUSE EMERGENCY LINE. CAMP BAKER IS A SIX-WEEK SUMMER TREATMENT DAY CAMP FOR CHILDREN (AGES 6 TO 12) WITH ADHD AND OTHER RELATED CHALLENGES WHICH COMBINES TRADITIONAL SUMMER CAMP ACTIVITIES WITH LEARNING SOCIAL, ACADEMIC, AND LIFE SKILLS. NEXT STEP: COLLEGE SUCCESS IS A COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS (AGES 16-20) WITH SOCIAL LEARNING AND ANXIETY CHALLENGES, OR RELATED LEARNING DIFFERENCES, AND ACTS AS A SIMULATION FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING WHILE IN COLLEGE. THE MASSACHUSETTS CHILD ABUSE EMERGENCY LINE, OPERATED BY THE BAKER CENTER ON BEHALF OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, PROVIDES A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM PROTECTING THE COMMONWEALTH'S CHILDREN FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
  3. $4.7 million spent. RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS AT THE BAKER CENTER CONSIST OF THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM, THE QUALITY CARE INITIATIVE, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION RESEARCH DIVISION. THE BAKER CENTER PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS TO CURRENT AND FUTURE PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALISTS, SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, PSYCHIATRISTS, NURSES, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS THROUGH THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM. THE QUALITY CARE INITIATIVE PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, AND HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY, SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN, SERVICES THROUGH TRAINING, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ADVOCACY. THE IMPLEMENTATION RESEARCH DIVISION, BASED IN HAWAII, FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH APPROACHES.
  4. $4.0 million spent. OUTPATIENT CLINICAL PROGRAMS AT THE BAKER CENTER CONSIST OF THE CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE THERAPY, AN OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT CENTER THAT PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY, EVIDENCE-BASED CARE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO ARE DEALING WITH PROBLEMS RELATED TO ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, TRAUMA, DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, AND PARENTING. THE CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE THERAPY HAS TWO CLINIC LOCATIONS: BOSTON, MA AND WALTHAM, MA.
  5. $765,857 spent. THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF CHILD WELFARE COMMISSIONERS AND DIRECTORS IS A CONSORTIUM OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCY LEADERS AND STAFF FROM CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, AND VERMONT WORKING TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. PARENT AND YOUTH LEADERS ARE PROVIDED WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGE AS AGENTS OF CHANGE ACROSS THE REGION. THROUGH A MYRIAD OF EVENTS, TRAININGS, AND POLICY INITIATIVES, THE ASSOCIATION FACILITATES WORK BETWEEN CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES AND PARENT AND YOUTH LEADERS WITH THE GOAL OF BETTER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1926.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.