Summer 2018 by Family Building Blocks

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JUNE | JULY | AUGUST

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SUMMER 2018 NEWSLETTER

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FROM PATRICE Partnering with parents is at the heart of our mission to “Keep Children Safe and Families Together.” We honor every parent’s desire to be the best parent they can be to their child, and we encourage parents to offer their insights and opinions to inform our work.

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.

For the past six years we have prioritized parent engagement opportunities through the formation and support of parent leadership councils. Through these voluntary councils, parents provide suggestions and advice about service delivery, gain leadership skills, and establish important social connections. Translation services are provided at all parent leadership council meetings, as well as child care and meals. Our two parent leadership councils, with a total of 17 participants, consist of parents who are currently receiving or have recently graduated from our services. Many council members have shared their personal testimonies at meetings, and several have allowed their stories to be filmed for events. Members of the parent leadership councils have testified at the Oregon State Capitol, and at events with as many as 1,200 attendees. Witnessing parents develop over time is rewarding and inspiring to our staff. In the words of a Family Building Blocks Home Visitor, “I get to take part in changing the world. I watch cycles break as new paths are forged. Today I lived a dream while teaching a parenting class; as a parent spoke about breaking cycles and parenting differently, I choked back my tears. I wish I had words to express how it felt. These humans in my life are so amazing and I am so honored to walk with them on a daily basis. I will never stop fighting for these families and I will always strive to be human with them and encourage their growth. I really do love my job and the work I get to do.”

Marni Redding | Mother Tree Olive Oil Melanie Ronai | Salem Pediatric Clinic

We are so grateful to our community for making this possible.

Patrice Altenhofen, Executive Director

FEATURED STORY CHRISTY PERRY

Superintendent of Salem-Keizer Public Schools and Family Building Blocks Board Member “In Salem-Keizer School District, we view Family Building Blocks as an important partner for children and families in our community that supports our vision – ‘All students graduate and are prepared for a successful life.’ It is the sobering fact that to a greater and greater degree we are seeing the impact of trauma or adverse childhood experience, termed ‘ACES,’ in our students. The three types of ACES include abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Sadly, in 2014, the National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network estimated one in four children in the United States will experience at least one traumatic event before the age of 16. For Salem-Keizer School District and our community, this means slightly more than 10,000 students. What we also know is that as children have more adverse childhood experiences, they have an increased risk of behavioral, physical, and mental health issues as adults. For our students experiencing trauma before age five, they show up to school unable to access their education. In our classrooms, this looks like over-activity, attention deficit disorder, cognitive delays, isolated children with an inability to form peer and adult connections, and students with an inability to regulate emotions. Family Building Blocks services are designed to reduce the potential for adverse childhood experiences. As a school district, we are working to think differently about our students, moving away from asking, ‘What is wrong with you?’ to asking, ‘What happened or is happening to you?’ As a community, we need to think not in terms of what is wrong with our children but, instead, what our children and their families are experiencing. When we do this, we will work as a community to be sure we support families in ways that are more likely to keep them intact.” Thank you, Christy, for your leadership and dedication to “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together!”

“In Salem-Keizer School District, we view Family Building Blocks as an important partner for children and families in our community that supports our vision – ‘All students graduate and are prepared for a successful life.’”

SPOTLIGHTS JOSH BAILEY, ALDRICH CPAS + ADVISORS

Stepping Stone Sustainer, Young Leaders Council Member “I was first introduced to Family Building Blocks through the AKTion day at our accounting firm. Each year, Aldrich CPAs + Advisors takes a half day where the entire firm volunteers in our community and a few years ago we visited Family Building Blocks. I vividly remember taking the tour and watching the ‘Still Face’ video for the first time. I was astonished. Then I saw the classrooms and learned how this program simultaneously supports children and parents. That one experience made me want to get involved. That first exposure to Family Building Blocks fundamentally changed how I thought about parenthood. Being a parent is a huge responsibility, and everyone needs help now and then. Unfortunately, not everyone has the same safety net of a supportive family, a job, and a network of caring friends. From that first experience, I knew that Family Building Blocks was that safety net for families in our community. In addition to volunteering as part of the Young Leaders Council, a group of young professionals who help plan events and raise funds for this great program, I’ve made a commitment to give as a Stepping Stone Sustainer – a monthly donor. I choose to invest monthly because I want my small gift to have the highest impact in my community possible. The research and statistics are powerful – early intervention in children’s lives has an incredible return on investment and invaluable impact on the future. I have seen first-hand the negative impacts of a tough childhood - in my own extended family, and with friends at school growing up. Abuse, neglect, and a lack of positive attachment and bonding can have far-reaching impacts on a person’s life, often affecting families for generations. Family Building Blocks partners with parents to break this intergenerational cycle, and I want to support ‘Keeping Children Safe and Families Together’ as much as I can.”

JOIN US FOR A TOUR OF THE RELIEF NURSERY!

TOUR DATES: June 20, July 18, and August 15 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.

HIGHLIGHTS

CLASSROOMS WELCOME SENATOR MERKLEY THANK YOU WELLS 45 NEW CHILDREN HONORS FBB IN DALLAS FARGO FOUNDATION We recently welcomed families to our first Head Start Open House to guide parents as their children transition out of our Therapeutic Classrooms. By providing educational support through this process, we are able to ensure families are ready for successful futures with Head Start. As these children transition to Head Start, we will welcome 45 new children to our Relief Nursery services.

Our services in Polk County were recognized at Senator Merkley’s recent Town Hall in Dallas, OR. Executive Director Patrice Altenhofen and incoming Board Chair Rich Schultz were presented with a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol. The flag is proudly displayed at the Dallas Academy Building. Thank you, Senator Merkley, and Polk County Commissioners.

Family Building Blocks was awarded a grant to support our Therapeutic Classrooms in Marion and Polk counties. Therapeutic Classrooms provide children seven hours of instructional time per week, in addition to at least one home visit per month. The Wells Fargo Foundation has supported the children and families in our programs by funding annual grants for the last eight years!

2018 LES SCHWAB TIRES DIAPER DRIVE PROVIDED OVER 65K DIAPERS!

This was a banner year for the annual Les Schwab Diaper Drive honoring Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. With incredible support from our community members, including 14 local businesses and schools serving as drop sites, over 51,000 diapers were donated and delivered to Family Building Blocks, in addition to a donation of $2,000 used to purchase 14,000 additional diapers. Over 20,000 diapers are changed annually at Family Building Blocks locations alone, and that number continues to grow. Access to diapers is critical for families to be successful in sending their children to programs and activities, and in keeping children safe. Thank you to all area Les Schwab Tire Centers for organizing this annual initiative responsible for ensuring children and families partnering with Family Building Blocks always have access to the diapers they need. Thank you to our community for continuing to prioritize “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together.” To participate in this program next year, 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 UNCORKED DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS! UNCORKED

WINE

AUCTION

Thank you to all of the sponsors, donors, vendors, volunteers, and attendees who supported and attended the 11th Annual Uncorked Wine Auction! Over 400 people gathered to support local children and families and to raise money for critical prevention services in Marion and Polk counties. New this year: four lucky guests won a helicopter arrival to the 2019 Uncorked during the Special Appeal. Cheers and thank you for “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together!”

BALTHAZAR SPONSOR

IMPERIAL SPONSORS

Drs. Selma & Bud

PIERCE MAGNUM SPONSORS

VENUE SPONSOR

YOU’RE INVITED!

PRESENTED BY

ENJOY LOCAL BREWS, FOOD, AND LIVE MUSIC! SATURDAY, JULY 14 | 4:00-9:00 PM | SALEM CAPITOL MALL | $12 ONLINE OR AT THE DOOR WWW.FAMILYBUILDINGBLOCKS.ORG/EVENTS/#UNTAPPED Get your tickets for the second annual Untapped! An annual fundraiser for Family Building Blocks, Untapped celebrates the culture of local breweries and restaurants, and promotes a strong and united community committed to “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together.”

RIVERFRONT FAMILY FEST AUGUST 4, 2018 Salem’s Riverfront Park 10:00 am-2:00 pm | FREE Health and safety fair with family-friendly activities. jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org

POLK COUNTY LUNCHEON SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 (DALLAS, OR) Colonel Nesmith Readiness Center 12:00-1:00 pm | FREE Bring your friends and celebrate the power of prevention in Polk County. jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org

FALL FASHION FRENZY SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 Woodburn Premium Outlets 10:00 am-4:00 pm | Tickets: $22 Proceeds fund mini-grants for families partnering with Family Building Blocks. dscott@familybuildingblocks.org.

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OREGON PERMIT NO. 64

2425 Lancaster Dr. NE Salem, OR 97305

PRINTING SPONSOR:

HILDREN C G

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E S TO G E T CHELSEA’S PLACE 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 Brandy O’Bannon at brandy@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 110 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