In 1939, Bishop Richard J. Cushing of Boston envisioned a haven for physically disabled children, transcending barriers of race, religion, and finances. Joining forces with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, an international order dedicated to serving children and families in need, they sought support from Joseph P. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s father. Kennedy provided a significant donation to fund a new hospital. On September 8, 1949, the doors opened to Kennedy Memorial Hospital.
Initially serving children with Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, the hospital expanded to meet the evolving needs of the community, including the polio epidemic in the 1950s. The hospital’s offerings eventually broadened to include medical rehabilitation, a dental clinic, and specialized education through the Kennedy Day School. Behavioral health services were added in the 1990s.
In July 2023, Franciscan Children’s entered into an affiliation with Boston Children’s Hospital, becoming a sister hospital under the Boston Children’s system. The affiliation will allow both institutions to expand access for behavioral health and rehabilitation care, invest in workforce, teaching, and research, and modernize the Warren St. campus.