Mission and Vision

Albertina Kerr Centers is a leader and innovator in building stronger families, working together with the community to create healing for children with emotional or mental health challenges and to support self-determination for people with developmental disabilities.

We envision a community where every child with emotional or mental health challenges has the possibility to heal and grow up in a healthy and caring family and where every person living with developmental disabilities has the support to thrive and the possibility to lead a full, self-determined life.

Kerr's Services

We offer a wide range of intensive psychiatric services for children and counseling for their families, creating possibilities for a healthy, productive life for each child. Programs include a therapeutic preschool for children ages 3 to 5, a crisis psychiatric residential facility, day treatment and foster care for children with special needs. We also work with children and adults with developmental disabilities in programs that offer 24-hour care, support and skills training. Last year, we provided more than 128,000 days of care to approximately 1,000 children, adults and their families.

Our programs are located throughout the Willamette Valley with services offered in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Marion and Lane counties. However, we serve individuals from all over Oregon and Southwest Washington. Kerr is also one of the most cost-efficient nonprofit organizations in our community with 91 cents of every dollar raised spent on vital programs and services.

Success Story: Tawshina

“Things got kind of hectic,” Tawshina, 11, says of her life last year. She lives with her mom and little brother in a transitional housing program, and the one room they share is cramped. Her past emotional trauma combined with the close quarters drove her to act out, even becoming violent. She spent a week at Kerr's Crisis Psychiatric Residential Program, and when she left, Kerr's services followed. Now, her family is part of Kerr's Intensive Community-Based Treatment Services. She meets with a therapist, who also provides counseling for the whole family, and meets frequently with her skills trainer. And twice a month she spends the weekend at a Kerr foster family to give everyone some space. “We're just really blessed,” says her mom. “She's grown so much.”

For more information about Albertina Kerr Centers, call 503-239-8101.