Fifteen people have expressed a willingess to serve on an advisory board.

FARMINGTON – While staff and teens at Kerr House are dwindling, support for the group home for parenting and pregnant teenagers appears to be growing.

A group of 15 people have said they’d be willing to serve on an advisory board to meet with the board of directors of the agency overseeing the home, said former Executive Director Liz Beal.

Additionally, state Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington, was expected at Kerr House on Wednesday afternoon.

Last week the directors of Positive Turning Points for Youth voted to suspend operations at the Kerr House as soon as possible due to mounting debt and concerns about the financial viability of the program.

It was noted Monday night during a press conference that it would take more than $100,000 to keep the home open for the rest of the fiscal year. The operating budget for the home that opened in early 2001 is more than $300,000.

One of the four teenagers at the home and her 4-year-old child moved to a motel Tuesday from Kerr House, waiting until an apartment becomes available June 1.

An expectant mother was moving some of her things out Wednesday.

Heather Moody, who is 36 weeks pregnant, said she plans to stay until they find a home for her and her unborn child.

Only a few of the eight staff members remain.

Melissa Van Lieu, a parent educator and relief house parent, was laid off last week but has continued to come in and volunteer at the home.

Beal said she has talked with Janine Winn, chairman of the Turning Points for Youth board, to set up two meetings between the newly formed advisory board and the agency’s board.

The first meeting would be to receive information from Turning Points board to determine what has been done so far. That would include a funding and expense overview. The second meeting would be to brainstorm ideas in an attempt to keep the home going, Beal said.

Winn said that she is trying to get a meeting set up with her board.

Beal said once there are no more young mothers at the home, it would take a longer time to get the home back up and operating.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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