Dear Friend of Kerr,
I hope you and your loved ones are safe as wildfires continue to affect communities across the Pacific Northwest. My thoughts are with everyone facing evacuations, property damage, and poor air quality.
At Kerr, we’ve had a busy summer, with opportunities to learn, strengthen our services, advocate for the people we support, and reconnect with long-time members of our community.
We really want to hear from you! Please take our brief Engagement Survey. Your feedback will help us understand how well we’re communicating Kerr’s mission and impact, and support one of our Strategic Plan goals: expanding Kerr’s impact. Take the survey.
Kerr was selected to join the Measurement-Based Care Learning Collaborative (MBC) through Pacific West Hub of the Center for Mental Health Implementation Support. This opportunity builds on our commitment to person-centered mental health care and will help us better use information from the people we support to understand whether treatment is working and when care may need to change. Read more.
Members of our team attended The Arc Oregon’s Youth I/DD & Mental Health Summit to share ideas and learn alongside others working to strengthen supports for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who also experience mental health challenges. I had the honor of presenting on Kerr’s Dual Diagnosis Initiative and sharing what we’re learning about coordinating behavioral health, residential, and developmental disability supports.
We’re expanding those connections as a new member of the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, a statewide association representing more than 60 behavioral health providers. It gives us another opportunity to learn from other providers and contribute to conversations about access to quality behavioral health services in Oregon.
On the advocacy front, the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act recently passed unanimously in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. This legislation would establish a dedicated Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), providing better workforce data and greater recognition of the essential role DSPs play in supporting people with I/DD. I encourage you to contact your senators and representatives and ask them to support this important legislation. Take action.
Last month, we welcomed former volunteers from The Old Kerr Nursery Association (TOKNA) back to Kerr for a special gathering. For nearly 40 years, TOKNA volunteers operated Albertina’s Place Restaurant and three resale shops, raising funds to support Kerr’s mission. It was wonderful to reconnect, share stories, and recognize their many years of service.
Do you have your gala tickets? I hope you’ll join us on Friday, September 25 for Together for Albertina Kerr, presented by The Standard. I always look forward to this evening and the chance to gather with people who care about Kerr and the people we support. Get your tickets.
Thank you for staying connected with Kerr. I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer.
Warmly,
Allison Stark
Chief Executive Officer
Albertina Kerr
**PHOTOS:** Cover photo: Kerr’s Inclusive Day Services participants
**Collage:** First row (left to right): Birthday celebration; Kerr CEO Allison Stark presents “Bridging the Gap” at the Youth I/DD & Mental Health Summit; Members of the Kerr team attended the Youth I/DD & Mental Health Summit.
Second row (left to right): Bowling at KingPins; Thumbs up at the Washington County Fair.
Third row (left to right): Visiting the Belmont Goats; Playing classic arcade games at Next Level Pinball Museum; The Old Kerr Nursery Association (TOKNA) former volunteers reconnect at a special summer gathering.
Fourth row (left to right): TOKNA former volunteers celebrate at a special summer gathering.