Dear Friend of Kerr,
At Albertina Kerr, our commitment to inclusion is part of our everyday work. This commitment takes on special significance in June as we celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth, reminders of the importance of visibility and belonging.
June also marks the end of our fiscal year. Happy FY27!
Our Dual Diagnosis Pilot Program is sparking important conversations about how we can better support young people and families navigating a developmental disability or Autism and a mental health challenge. In April, I shared this work at ANCOR Connect ’26 in Boston, where attendees chose our session as one of the top three at the conference. Because of this, it will be featured in ANCOR’s “Greatest Hits” webinar series on June 11. If you want to learn more or register, click here. 
I look forward to continuing these conversations at the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (INARF) Annual Conference this fall. It is encouraging to see growing interest in approaches that better support youth with both disabilities and mental health needs.
In May, we wrapped up Mental Health Awareness Month with When Neurodiversity & Mental Health Converge, a community event about neurodevelopmental differences and mental health in young people. Thank you to everyone who joined us. I’m especially grateful to our panelists, Dr. Naomi Fishman, Dr. Cortney Taylor, Dr. Martine Richardson Sacks, and Dr. Jenny Tsai, for sharing their expertise and perspectives. Thanks also to Laurine Apolloni and Apolloni Vineyards for providing a welcoming space for the evening.
As a board member of The Arc Oregon, I encourage you to take advantage of its free Mental Health First Aid training. Often described as CPR for mental health, the skills-based training teaches participants how to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge. Kerr is also proud to sponsor the upcoming The Arc’s 2026 Youth I/DD Mental Health Summit, which will unite advocates, providers, and families to promote greater understanding and support.
I am pleased to share that Kerr recently completed a $50,000 challenge grant from the HEDCO Foundation to purchase a 15-passenger bus for our Inclusive Day Services program. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, this new bus will expand opportunities for community participation.
Together, we’re building a future where people with I/DD and mental health challenges get the opportunities and support they deserve.
Warmly,
Allison Stark
Chief Executive Officer
**PHOTOS:** Cover photo: Kerr’s Inclusive Day Services participants on new bus, provided by the HEDCO Foundation
**Collage:** First row (left to right): Panelists from our Mental Health Awareness Month Conversation—Dr. Martine Richardson Sacks, Dr. Naomi Fishman, Dr. Jenny Tsai, and Dr. Cortney Taylor—alongside moderator, Allison Stark; attendees at the Mental Health Awareness Month Conversation
Second photo on right: Kerr’s Inclusive Day Services participants enjoy a day of bowling
Second row (left to right): A day at the Oregon Ag Fest; volunteering at the Sunshine Division; connecting with professionals at the Northwest Facilities Expo; exploring the Historic Belmont Firehouse Museum
Third row (left to right):Â Cooking class; visiting the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI); Kerr’s new 15-passenger bus, made possible by the HEDCO Foundation