Kerr Early Intervention Program (KEIP) is a therapeutic preschool that serves children ages 3 to 5 who have significant emotional or mental health challenges that impact their ability to learn and develop emotionally. KEIP’s goal is simple — to make it possible for each child to enter school ready to learn.

Children initially attend a therapeutic classroom four days a week, receiving both educational and mental health services. Services are then individually designed based on each child and family. Resources include a combination of individual and family therapy and skill building sessions for the child and caregivers.

Parent involvement is a key component at KEIP. The team is available 24 hours a day for family support, working closely with each family to help them learn coping skills and get connected with community resources such as special play groups. When children are ready to start mainstream school, the KEIP team is there, helping each child make a smooth transition.

Achievements:

• Last year, KEIP helped 56 children and their families with 11,749 days of care.
• More than 81 percent of the children successfully entered kindergarten, preschool or Head Start ready to learn.

History: KEIP began in 1993 to help very young children who were struggling with emotional and behavioral issues and learning delays. In 1997, Medicaid funding for early intervention programs began to shrink. Although other Portland-area early intervention programs closed, Kerr’s board of directors made a commitment to raise private funds to keep KEIP alive. In 2003, KEIP began working with the Multnomah Early Childhood Education Program in partnered classrooms and in 2005 moved to the Edwards school facility in Southeast Portland.