Summer 2019 by Family Building Blocks

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F E & FA M

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H I LDREN

SA E S TO G E T

SUMMER 2019 NEWSLETTER

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FROM PATRICE “Wear bright colors.”

OFFICERS

This request was texted to me the morning of Oregon State Senator Jackie Winters’ memorial service. I had been wondering what to wear. Traditional black didn’t seem to capture the essence of how I remembered her. In every picture I hold of Jackie in my mind, she is wearing bright colors. She was bold. She was a pioneer. She was always confident and comfortable with who she was and what she had to say.

Rich Schultz, Chair Cherry City Metals Jeff Moore, Vice Chair Saalfeld Griggs, PC Nita Kennedy, Past Chair COUNTRY Financial Brian Johnston, Past Chair Dallas Glass & Window

Jackie Winters was a protector of the people. She was a champion of the human spirit and of human rights. She fought for the most vulnerable – from children facing food insecurity, to incarcerated youth, to families at-risk of disintegration. She made me feel that keeping children safe and families together was the most important job in the world. She challenged and inspired me to work hard and to take risks. Like her friend Ted Ferrioli stated so beautifully at her memorial, Jackie resided in a place of power, with the power to help others rise.

Jody Rowell, Secretary Community Service Mike Blanchard, Treasurer Johnson, Glaze & Co.

Jackie believed in Relief Nurseries, and helped develop their innovative public-private funding model. She was responsible for the initial public funding, and ensured funding grew to support our growing system throughout Oregon. When she took office in 1998 there were three Relief Nurseries in Oregon. Because of her, there are now 31, with nine more on the way.

When she spoke at Family Building Blocks’ 20th Anniversary Celebration in 2017, she said, “How we treat our children is how we can predict what our future will be.” Jackie’s legacy will live on for generations to come through the work of Relief Nurseries across Oregon.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you Jackie.

R. Taylor | Chemeketa Community College Ernesto Toskovic | KeyBank Conrad Venti | Venti’s Restaurants Patrice Altenhofen | FBB Executive Director

Patrice Altenhofen, Executive Director

FEATURED STORY ACHIEVING EQUALITY STARTS WITH MOMS

We recently came across a powerful article from Quartz written by Jenny Anderson that highlights how the fight against inequality starts with moms. Anderson covers the groundbreaking study that demonstrates the undeniable proof that the best way to help kids is to start early, and give mothers and families the support they need. Below are a few excerpts and we encourage you to visit qz.com to read the full article detailing the Jamaica experiments which show us what can be done, the importance of stimulation, and the impact of the long-lasting effects. Anderson writes, “Children born into poverty start at a big disadvantage. To thrive, they need food, shelter, and health care. But a growing body of evidence shows there are other ways to help close the vast gap in development between poor kids and their wealthier peers—singing, talking, and playing with them. If this sounds obvious or inconsequential, it’s not. Dealing with the stress of poverty makes it hard for many parents to establish critical bonds with their babies—bonds that lay the foundations for learning, emotional regulation, and relationships. Poor parents are ‘focused on survival and illness and food and health care,’ says Sally Grantham-McGregor, an emeritus professor of international child health at University College London and University of the West Indies. ‘There’s no time to play with children—it seems frivolous.’ But playing with babies turns out to be anything but frivolous. Grantham-McGregor and her colleagues have spent more than 40 years pioneering research which showed just how much supporting mothers in the earliest days of a child’s life can directly benefit that child. In the 1970s, Grantham-McGregor and Christine Powell, from the University of the West Indies, began a research project aimed at helping young children from poor backgrounds and their moms in Kingston, Jamaica. They designed programs that sent doctors and nurses to visit mothers every week in their homes for two years, bringing toys and books that would help parents become better teachers to their babies and to increase stimulation and play. The resulting studies found that children whose mothers received coaching made significant developmental gains, and not just in the short term. Twenty-two years later, the kids from one group who had received those home visits as young children not only had higher scores on tests of reading, math, and general knowledge, they had stayed in school longer. They were less likely to exhibit violent behavior, less likely to experience depression, and had better social skills. They also earned 25% more on average than a control group of kids whose mothers had not received the coaching. The highly influential Jamaica studies have influenced the way many countries think about investing in early childhood development. Brazil, Guatemala, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Bangladesh, and India are all trying parent coaching programs—many based on the Jamaica model. It’s easy to see why some countries are embracing such an approach. After all, it’s in every country’s best interest to ensure that its most disadvantaged citizens get the support they need to live productive, fulfilling lives. ‘If we want to attack poverty, the place to start is very early in life,’ says Paul Gertler, an economist who studied the long-term effects of the Jamaica program. Research shows that poverty affects a young child’s development on multiple levels, from their cognitive and educational performance to their physical health and social and emotional development. Compared to the cost of unemployment benefits or other social safety net programs, ‘getting it right to start with is cheaper.’ ‘The single most powerful context for nurturing care is the immediate home and care settings of young children often provided by mothers, but also by fathers and other family members, as well as by child-care services,’ Britto writes. Thanks to the Jamaica experiments, the world has increasingly accepted this fundamental truth: The best way to help poor kids is to start early, and give mothers and families the support they need.”

SPOTLIGHTS DONOR AND VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Katy Canales, Therapeutic Classroom Volunteer and Dream Builder “I was first introduced to Family Building Blocks by my friend and Family Building Blocks Board Member, Conrad Venti. Conrad invited me to the Dream Builders Luncheon where I checked a box on the pledge card to share I was interested in volunteering. Since then, I have volunteered in the Therapeutic Classrooms for eight years. I love all the children I get to work with and I absolutely love the teachers. Family Building Blocks makes a huge impact on young children in the classrooms and their families, and I get to see that up close. I have too many awesome memories in the classroom to pick a favorite. Every Tuesday when I walk into the classroom, the children run to me and give me hugs. There’s nothing better! I’m also a Dream Builder and have chosen to give monthly using my credit card because I see how much Family Building Blocks helps families in our community. I want to give whatever I can to help accomplish the mission of ‘Keeping Children Safe and Families Together!’”

WE ARE SEEKING THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS!

Join us for a tour of the Relief Nursery this summer and learn how you can “Keep Children Safe and Families Together.” Wednesdays, June 19, July 17, and August 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 volunteer@familybuildingblocks.org.

HIGHLIGHTS

SUMMER FAMILY PLAY GARDENING PRODUCES GROUPS MEET OUTSIDE HEALTHY, HAPPY KIDS

This summer, Family Building Blocks is hosting Family Play Groups outside at Pioneer Park in Stayton. Play Groups are a great opportunity for families to spend time together, socialize with other families, and foster relationships within their community. Families will learn skills to support child development and gain experience in establishing positive and fun routines with their children while benefiting from fresh air and outdoor exploration.

For young children, gardening is a fantastic therapeutic activity for engaging all of their senses. Thanks to Scott’s Miracle Grow, Marion Polk Food Share, Bonnie Plants, and Home Depot, children and families at Helen’s Place will have access to gardening opportunities with our new greenhouse! Thank you to our volunteers, families, and staff for celebrating summer with a garden party. We even had a special visit from Caesar the No Drama Llama!

ANNUAL FAMILY NIGHT CELEBRATED IN JUNE

In June, we hosted our annual Summer Family Night at Salem’s Riverfront Carousel to celebrate children and families partnering with Family Building Blocks. Hosted twice a year, Family Nights are free opportunities for our families to have FUN while enjoying a complimentary meal and activities like reading books, face painting, obstacle courses, and more! Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor First Tech Federal Credit Union!

2019 LES SCHWAB TIRES DIAPER DRIVE PROVIDED OVER 63K DIAPERS!

Thank you SO MUCH to our area Les Schwab Tire Centers for supporting another year of this annual diaper drive that benefits children and families in our community! The diapers were collected throughout the month of April as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month and were delivered to Helen’s Place on May 2. Our community helped collect 63,146 diapers for babies and toddlers. From the bottom of our hearts – THANK YOU! That’s 11,626 MORE than last year. We’d like to give another huge thank you to our schools and drop sites throughout the area for supporting this initiative! “Doing The Right Thing Matters,” the Les Schwab motto, is valued and celebrated in this community. 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

mo.

Milk For 1 Classroom

mo.

Formula For 1 Infant

mo.

Diapers For 5 Children

TEXT TO

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

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

yr.

Therapeutic Classrooms For 1 Child

Home Visits For 1 Family

STEP 1

GIVE!

MIRACLE MAKER

Text FBB to 91999

STEP 2

Click the link in the reply to complete your donation

THANK YOU UNCORKED DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS! 12TH

The 12th annual Uncorked Revelry and Uncorked Live included NEW online bidding, a rockin’ dance party, and fantastic auction items. The two-night event continued the tradition of celebrating our incredible region with those who support the youngest among us. We are proud to announce that together we raised over $440,000 to “Keep Children Safe and Families Together.” Because of you and your support, we will continue to impact the lives of children like Kiri, a child in our Therapeutic Classroom over 15 years ago.

A N N UA L

UNCORKED REVELRY

UNCORKED

05 17 19

05 18 19 PRESENTING SPONSOR

BALTHAZAR SPONSOR

IMPERIAL SPONSOR

Drs. Selma & Bud

PIERCE SUPPORTING SPONSOR

ENGAGING SPONSOR Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace

CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS AmeriTitle | Green Acres Landscape/White Oak Construction Grove, Mueller & Swank, PC | Marks In Time Photography

MAGNUM SPONSORS Capitol Toyota | Dallas Glass & Window | Dermatology Clinic, PC | Eye Care Physicians & Surgeons Fischer, Hayes, Joye & Allen, LLC | Focus Consulting, LLC | Freres Lumber Co, Inc. Green Acres Landscape/White Oak Construction | Hope Orthopedics of Oregon Huggins Insurance/Rich Duncan Construction | Mother Tree Olive Grove | Ram Steelco Sherman Sherman Johnnie & Hoyt, LLP | The Marble Center, Inc. PADDLE RAISE SPONSOR Larry and Jeanette Epping Family Foundation

YOU’RE INVITED! CAPITAL

FEATURING

CITY LIVE !

KANE

BROWN

JULY 31 SALEM, OR

PRESENTED BY

BENEFITING

CAPITAL CITY LIVE! FEATURING KANE BROWN

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 | LB DAY AMPHITHEATRE AT THE OREGON STATE FAIRGROUNDS GATES OPEN AT 6:00 PM | CONCERT BEGINS AT 7:00 PM | TICKETS AT TICKETTOMATO.COM

Capital City LIVE! features Kane Brown, award winning Country Music sensation whose self-titled album hit #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums for five consecutive weeks. Brown, captivating audiences with his signature blend of country and R&B, will tour the United States in 2019. His performance at the LB Day Amphitheatre in Salem, OR for Capital City LIVE! benefits children and families partnering with Family Building Blocks. If you’d like to sponsor this concert, please contact Rich Schultz at capitalcitylive2019@gmail.com.

RIVERFRONT FAMILY FEST AUGUST 3, 2019 Salem’s Riverfront Park 10:00 am-2:00 pm | FREE You’re invited to our health and safety fair with family-friendly activities. jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org

DORIS’S PLACE LUNCHEON SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 Foothills Church in Stayton, OR 12:00-1:00 pm | FREE Join us to celebrate the power of prevention in the Santiam Canyon. jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org

DREAM BUILDERS LUNCHEON OCTOBER 24, 2019 Salem Convention Center 12:00-1:00 pm | FREE Join us to celebrate the power of prevention in downtown Salem. jhilty@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

R HE

IL I

E S TO G E T CHELSEA’S PLACE 2425 Lancaster Dr. NE Salem, OR 97305

F E & FA M

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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 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