Autumn 2018 by Family Building Blocks

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SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER

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AUTUMN 2018 NEWSLETTER

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FROM PATRICE If you can believe it, Helen’s Place opened two years ago! Our doors opened to children in southeast Salem with one Relief Nursery Therapeutic Classroom and two Early Head Start classrooms. One classroom remained vacant as we built capacity Classroom 12.

OFFICERS Nita Kennedy, Chair COUNTRY Financial Rich Schultz, Chair-Elect Cherry City Metals Jeff Moore, Vice Chair Saalfeld Griggs, PC Brian Johnston, Past Chair Dallas Glass & Window Jody Rowell, Secretary Community Service Mike Blanchard, Treasurer Johnson, Glaze & Co.

We are happy to announce that, on September 4, we opened Relief Nursery Therapeutic Classroom 12 to serve an additional 14 children and their families. Generous support from community members made this possible – community members who share our vision that all children should be safe and all families deserve the best possible chance to stay together. We are forever grateful. With the launch of this new classroom, we are “at capacity” at Helen’s Place. Even so, children remain on our “unserved” list, waiting for a spot in one of our Therapeutic Classrooms. As they wait, we serve these children and their families through Home Visitation and telephone check-ins to ensure we maintain our connection and offer timely, responsive resources. Ongoing community support will allow us to build sustainable funding for these expanded operations, both in the Therapeutic Classrooms, as well as attending to those waiting on the unserved list. Some of the best ways you can help are to volunteer in a classroom or become a monthly Stepping Stone Sustainer, or both! If you already volunteer, consider referring a friend. If you are already a sustainer, consider increasing your monthly gift by 10%. All you need to do is call 503.566.2132 or visit www.familybuildingblocks.org. Thank you for “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together.”

Patrice Altenhofen, Executive Director

FEATURED STORY WITNESSING THE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY

“Recently, I had the privilege to give and serve in a dire situation right here in Salem. I was outside of Trader Joe’s when a young woman with a very young child approached me and asked if I would buy her some food. Together we went into the grocery store and I watched with a mixture of sadness and delight as this mother and her two-year-old daughter picked out bananas, bread, yogurt, sun screen, and bottled water. The mother explained that she was homeless and looking for money to pay for the nightly hotel bill. She had taken the bus from North Lancaster to South Salem, in plans of walking around parking lots asking for money so she and her daughter would not have to sleep on the street. I could see the anxiety on her face. She looked exhausted and scared. The two-year-old was hungry, tired, and they had been wondering the lot all day by this point. After shopping she thanked me and headed towards the bus stop. I ran back to my car and burst into tears. I was reminded how fragile life can be. I pictured my own two-year-old daughter. My own life. It was a huge reminder that there are millions of ways to serve and give right in my own back yard. Before I said goodbye, I handed the mother some information about Family Building Blocks. I pictured the two-year-old coming into one of our classrooms, seeing the beautiful environment, meeting the caring teachers and volunteers, and eating delicious food. I pictured the mom getting resources for housing and support in setting future goals. I pictured that child and mother bonding over a book in a safe space. I pictured that daughter never knowing foster care, always having a bed, and always being with her mom. I took a deep sigh of relief in knowing that Family Building Blocks offers all of this. And, I realized again, the deep beauty in giving sometimes it can be very vulnerable, but it is so good to give and so good to serve. I believe the act of volunteering will bring us more joy, energy, and purpose, and that when we dedicate ourselves to a greater cause, life will become a glorious adventure!” - Heather Hawkins, Director of Volunteer Engagement, hhawkins@familybuildingblocks.org

THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! JOIN US FOR A TOUR OF THE RELIEF NURSERY. Wednesdays, Sept 26, Oct 17, and Nov 21 from 11:00 am-12:00 pm at Chelsea’s Place, 2425 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem Contact Camille Stricklin to sign up for a tour at 503.798.4744 or cstricklin@familybuildingblocks.org.

SPOTLIGHTS SALEM HEALTH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

LONG-TERM COMMUNITY PARTNER, DREAM BUILDER LEVEL DONOR, AND PRESENTING SPONSOR OF RIVERFRONT FAMILY FEST We are so grateful for the wonderful people at Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics who are committed to supporting children and families in our community. For the past several years, Salem Health has made it a priority to “Keep Children Safe and Families Together” by partnering with Family Building Blocks through identifying families that could benefit from our services, volunteering, and financial gifts that support our community-building events and Therapeutic Early Childhood Programs. Most recently, they developed and hosted a Health Fair for our families in April where 225 medical providers and employees volunteered to bring families together through fun activities, a meal, and access to valuable health care resources and education. Their Presenting level sponsorship of Riverfront Family Fest in August also helped welcome nearly 4,000 community members to our annual health and safety fair. Leilani Slama, Vice President of Community Engagement for Salem Health and Family Building Blocks Board Member, shared, “Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is proud to support the important work being done by Family Building Blocks every day in our community. It’s in the best interest of everyone to give our children the best possible start in life, and provide critical support to the people who ensure that great start, the parents. As a hospital, our mission is to improve the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve. As a community partner, that doesn’t always have to be clinical; sometimes, it’s simply giving families the chance to have fun together and enjoy each other’s company. Our partnership with Family Building Blocks makes that happen in a very concrete way.” Thank you, Leilani, and Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics, for “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together!”

More than 225 Salem Health medical providers and employees partnered with Family Building Blocks to offer free dinner and a health fair to about 800 community members. Houck Middle School, Salem April 19, 2018

HIGHLIGHTS

FALLS CITY PLAYGROUP HOSTS MORE CHILDREN

We recently had a breakthrough in developing a playgroup in Falls City! Through building connections within the school district and at the local produce distribution center, FBB’s Polk County Outreach Coordinator recently hosted weekly playgroups in July with three additional groups meeting in August. At the most recent playgroup, nine children and eight adults were happy to attend.

HELEN’S PLACE OPENS MOTHERS & BABIES NEW CLASSROOM COURSE EXPANDS

Salem’s local Integrity Foundation recently awarded us a grant to purchase furniture for the opening of a new Therapeutic Classroom at Helen’s Place, our Relief Nursery in Southeast Salem. Furniture like climbers are important for children to build large motor skills. Thank you, Integrity Foundation, for supporting children and families partnering with Family Building Blocks!

The Mothers & Babies Course support groups had a successful summer, completing a total of 10 back-to-back cohorts in the Salem and Woodburn areas. The facilitator of Mothers & Babies also partnered with Gustavo Gutierrez-Gomez from the City of Woodburn to build relationships with local businesses including Santana Mexican food and El Tule Taqueria who generously donated three meals!

FRIENDS AND EMPLOYEES OF SANTIAM HOSPITAL

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: SPONSOR A CHILD OR PARENTS THIS NOVEMBER!

Family Building Blocks ensures that all children and families partnering with us have their basic needs met during the holiday season so they can create precious memories they will remember together for years to come. Would you like to sponsor a child or parents during this holiday season? You can help provide needed materials including educational toys, books, coats, and more. To sponsor a child or parent, please contact Julie Hilty at jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org.

GIVE Thank you for your support in “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together!”

SUSTAINER

DREAM BUILDER

Become a monthly donor and give online. www.familybuildingblocks.org

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Milk For 1 Classroom

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Formula For 1 Infant

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Diapers For 5 Children

Give $1,000 a year for three years. brandy@familybuildingblocks.org

MIRACLE MAKER Give $5,000 a year for three years. brandy@familybuildingblocks.org

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Home Visits For 1 Family

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Therapeutic Classrooms For 1 Child

THANK YOU UNTAPPED AND RIVERFRONT FAMILY FEST SPONSORS! Thank you to all of the sponsors, donors, vendors, volunteers, and guests who supported and attended the 2nd Annual Untapped! Over 300 people gathered to support local children and families and to raise money for critical prevention services in Marion and Polk counties. Special thanks to Causewagon and our community of breweries and restaurants for sharing your creations to support “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together!” Cheers to you! PRESENTING SPONSOR

GROWLER SPONSORS

PINT SPONSORS ALDRICH ADVISORS | AMERITITLE | FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE | FIRST AMERICAN HUGGINS INSURANCE | MARKS IN TIME PHOTOGRAPHY

Nearly 4,000 community members attended this beloved annual health and safety fair. With family-friendly activities including face painting and a helicopter landing, Riverfront Park came to life celebrating local children and families. Thank you to all of the sponsors, donors, vendors, volunteers, and guests who supported and attended the 2018 Riverfront Family Fest! PRESENTING SPONSORS

CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS SUPPORTING SPONSORS CASCADE COLLECTIONS CAFÉ YUMM! CHERRY CITY METALS HELTZEL WILLIAMS PC LANDMARK PROFESSIONAL MORTGAGE SALEM ELECTRIC

PARTICIPATING SPONSORS CHILDHOOD HEALTH ASSOCIATES OF SALEM F&W FENCE OHSU DOERNBECHER CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

YOU’RE INVITED! MEET KIELER AT THE POLK COUNTY LUNCHEON

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 | NOON - 1:00 PM | RSVP TODAY! COLONEL NESMITH READINESS CENTER IN DALLAS, OR Kieler was born premature and had significant developmental delays. When he first was enrolled in our Polk County Therapeutic Classroom, he would often cry for long periods of time and was unable to interact with his peers. Our Therapeutic Classrooms helped transform this toddler’s life while also supporting his mother in overcoming significant grief and depression. Are you passionate about Family Building Blocks’ work in Polk County? Please join us to be inspired by this family’s story, celebrate the power of prevention, and learn how you can support children and families at Family Building Blocks! For more information or to reserve your seat, contact Julie Hilty at 503.566.2132 or jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org.

MEET NOAH AT THE DREAM BUILDERS LUNCHEON

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 | NOON - 1:00 PM | RSVP TODAY! SALEM CONVENTION CENTER Elizabeth wishes she could forget her childhood. She suffered from abuse, lost her mother when she was a teen, and spent time in foster care. Lacking positive parenting examples, Elizabeth regrets some of the choices she made when she had her first two children. When her third child, Noah, was born, Elizabeth was introduced to Family Building Blocks and said “YES” to partnering with us to break the intergenerational cycle of abuse and neglect. Please share your passion for “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together” by hosting a table of 10 (at no cost to you). To sponsor the event, become a table captain, or reserve your seat, contact Julie Hilty at 503.566.2132 or jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org.

JOIN US FOR GALA OF TREES

PRESENTED BY

A BENEFIT FOR BOYS & GIRLS AID AND FAMILY BUILDING BLOCKS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 | 6:00 - 10:00 PM | TICKETS: $110 OREGON STATE EXPO CENTER PAVILION Tickets are available for purchase online starting September 20! Join us, along with Boys & Girls Aid, to raise money for local children and families at this must-attend annual event! Celebrate the holidays and bid on a range of elaborately decorated holiday trees with popular and traditional designs. Proceeds from this event directly benefit children and families in need. Boys & Girls Aid has joined forces with Family Building Blocks for a multi-year partnership to make a significant impact for children and families in our community. Our vision is for all children in our community to be safe, thriving, and out of foster care. We hope you share our excitement about this partnership! Together, as a community, we can ensure the well-being of our youngest generation and future generations to follow. To purchase tickets or learn more, please visit familybuildingblocks.org/events.

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2425 Lancaster Dr. NE Salem, OR 97305

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To update your physical address for our quarterly newsletter and to join our monthly IMPACT e-news list, contact Karlee Collier at kcollier@familybuildingblocks.org.

GRACIE’S PLACE 1135 Edgewater St. NW Salem, OR 97304

DORIS’S PLACE 383 N. 3rd Ave Stayton, OR 97383

BROADWAY PLACE 1255 Broadway St. Salem, OR 97301

DALLAS ACADEMY 182 SW Academy St. Suite 210 Dallas, OR 97338

HELEN’S PLACE 180 18th St. NE Salem, OR 97301

Family Building Blocks (Central Office) 2425 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem, OR 97305 | 503.566.2132 | www.familybuildingblocks.org