Summer 2021

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SUMMER 2021 NEWSLETTER

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ORGANIZATION VALUES OFFICERS R. Taylor, Chair Chemeketa Community College Jeff Moore, Vice Chair Saalfeld Griggs, PC Rich Schultz, Past Chair Cherry City Metals Brian Johnston, Past Chair Dallas Glass & Window Jody Rowell, Secretary Community Service Mike Blanchard, Treasurer Johnson, Glaze & Co.

BOARD MEMBERS Steve Altman | True Private Wealth Advisors Jacob Bailey | Sea Legs Media Ross Carey | U.S. Bank Brent DeMoe | Polk County Family and Community Outreach Walt Edmonds | Retired, OR Court of Appeals Adrienne Fischer | Legislative Commission on Indian Services Hannah Fouts | HomeSmart Realty Group Deana Freres | Community Service Pedro Gomez | Representing Partnering Families Levi Herrera-Lopez | Mano a Mano Danae Johnson | Capital Financial Planners Rob Kansky | Green Acres Landscape Lillian Kay | HomeSmart Realty Group Nancy MacMorris-Adix | Legacy Silverton Midwives Diane McLaran | Center for Business and Industry Wes McWhorter | Premier Remodeling & Design Jerry Moore | Retired, Salem Chief of Police Landon Pegg | Western Interlock Christy Perry | Salem-Keizer Public Schools Marni Redding | Mother Tree Olive Grove and The Arbor Leilani Slama | Salem Health Ernesto Toskovic | KeyBank Conrad Venti | Venti’s Restaurants Patrice Altenhofen | FBB Executive Director

ORGANIZATION VALUES • We respect the unique personhood of each child.

• We believe in the power of a securely attached family.

• We are family-centered, caring and supportive.

• We strive for equity and celebrate diversity.

• We are collaborative and ambitious.

• We emphasize strengths and assume positive intent.

• We honor vulnerability and courage.

• We offer optimism and hope.

• We express gratitude for our community’s generosity.

FROM PATRICE While Family Building Blocks’ programs have always been grounded in mental health, for some children the only way to build positive relationships with their parent is through therapy, guided by a mental health clinician with expertise in serving children impacted by trauma. Unfortunately, the families we serve have very limited access to such services.

That’s why we are building Jeanette’s Place.

In 2020, a gift from Mountain West Investment Corporation enabled Family Building Blocks to hire our first mental health clinician and, with support from a lead donor, the Larry and Jeanette Epping Family Foundation, we secured a building to expand mental health services.

When asked to help name our new building, Gary Epping, the son of Larry and Jeanette, was inspired to call it Jeanette’s Place after his late mother who was a leader in advocating for children and families in our community.

Jeanette grew up in Mt. Angel and eventually moved to Salem with her husband Larry where they had five children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. The Eppings were beloved by their community and are remembered for their love for family and friends, dedicated volunteerism, and numerous charitable gifts to support those in need.

Gary and the foundation are continuing their 18-year legacy of “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together” in our community. In addition to helping create Jeanette’s Place, their many contributions totaling over $2 million have made a substantial impact in our Relief Nursery services through the recent development of Helen’s Place in 2016, our Relief Nursery in southeast Salem, pledging to be Miracle Makers by providing critical annual funding, and much more. Jeanette’s Place is located across the street from Helen’s Place, ensuring easy access to therapy for the families we serve.

This new Family Mental Health Program provides behavioral health services such as individual and family psychotherapy, psychotherapy groups, and play therapy to children, their parents, and their families.

To learn more, please contact me at patrice@familybuildingblocks.org.

Patrice Altenhofen, Executive Director

FEATURED STORY FREE COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICS HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND HEALTHY

Family Building Blocks recently partnered with Oregon Health Authority and Salem Health to provide four mobile vaccine clinics in Marion County. These clinics were held in June and July at Blanchet Catholic School on northeast Lancaster and at First Presbyterian Church, our satellite Relief Nursery in Woodburn. Family Building Blocks staff and volunteers, along with the team from Salem Health, safely welcomed our community seeking vaccines with bilingual support, fun and festive music, a free meal, giveaways, free resources and activities, and more.

During the heatwave, we were able to move the clinic at Blanchet indoors to utilize the cool, air-conditioned gym. Special thanks to our friends at Blanchet for their generous hospitality! These clinics were free with no insurance or identification required. Salem Health administered both Pfizer and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Family Building Blocks staff and volunteers were also there to support the scheduling of second doses to those in need. We’d like to give a big thank you to our volunteers who helped set up and tear down the mobile clinics, offered a warm and friendly welcome to our guests, helped direct parking, guided our guests to where they needed to go, and for ensuring we created the safest possible opportunity to provide vaccines. We appreciate you!

Please stay tuned and visit us online to learn about our future mobile vaccine clinic opportunities in Marion and Polk counties. We hope you will join us and share this resource with others. Together, we can protect our community from the spread of COVID-19. Find us at familybuildingblocks.org and see additional resources below!

GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 To protect each other and “Keep Children Safe and Families Together!”

“I got vaccinated for my family and yours.” - Sulema

WHY SHOULD I GET VACCINATED? Vaccines are safe, effective, FREE, and will help slow the spread of COVID-19.

WHERE AND WHEN CAN I GET VACCINATED? Find all safety and eligibility information online at govstatus.egov.com/find-covid-19-vaccine or call 503.576.2828 (Marion) or 503.623.8175 (Polk).

CONNECT WITH FAMILY BUILDING BLOCKS AND REFER A FRIEND FOR PARENTING SUPPORT! CALL 971.301.1003 | Partnering with families with children prenatal to five years in Marion and Polk counties

SPOTLIGHTS NEW TRANSPORTATION PROVIDES GREATER ACCESS TO SERVICES IN NORTH MARION COUNTY THANKS TO PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC

When in-person services are again fully operational, one major stressor some families partnering with Family Building Blocks will face is limited access to transportation to our critical wraparound services. To continue offering the most intensive, specialized supports to children and families in rural areas like North Marion County, we need to increase our transportation opportunities. Thankfully, we were recently awarded a $200,000 grant from PGE to purchase an electric bus and charging station.

This addition increases access to transportation for children and families partnering with us through our Therapeutic Classroom at our Woodburn Satellite Relief Nursery. Families attending our parenting classes and playgroups will now also have greater access to these services. By providing transportation to and from our Relief Nursery Therapeutic Early Childhood Programs, we are helping to significantly reduce the stress and strain on families who can benefit from our partnership. Thank you, Portland General Electric, for advancing equitable transportation electrification via the Drive Change Fund. Together we can continue serving those most in need. Here’s to a “Clean Energy Future!”

SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES GROWS WITH HELP FROM SALEM HEALTH

Family Building Blocks is continuing to grow and expand our Family Mental Health Program with the support of our community. We’d like to give a big thank you to our friends at Salem Health for prioritizing this program during one of the most challenging times in our community’s history. Pictured is Executive Director Patrice Altenhofen receiving the check from Salem Health’s Leilani Slama, who is also a dedicated Family Building Blocks Board Member. With this $30,000 gift, we will continue increasing the services we are offering to children and families in our other three Relief Nursery programs.

Our Family Mental Health Program provides safe spaces where families served by Family Building Blocks can build healthy relationships by accessing behavioral health services such as individual and family psychotherapy, psychotherapy groups, and play therapy. Our therapists help children and their families reduce anxiety or depression, improve daily living and mental functionality, and decrease family stressors, all to support family success.

HIGHLIGHTS

DONATE TO THE DIAPER REFER FAMILIES WITH DRIVE THROUGH AUGUST YOUNG CHILDREN The Lotus Studio is hosting a diaper drive through August that will help meet the ongoing need for diapers in our community. By providing families with consistent access to diapers, we are ensuring babies stay clean and safe and that diaper insecurity continues to decrease in our region.

To learn more and donate diapers of all sizes, contact Marci at 503.302.5020 or marci@the-lotus-studio.com.

Do you know families with children ages five and younger who could benefit from our supportive parenting community? Please consider helping us reach more families in Marion and Polk counties who may not know we exist. Families can visit us online or call our incredible Intake Team at 971.301.1003 to begin a partnership with our loving teachers and staff. familybuildingblocks.org/parents

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: GARDEN LOVERS

Are you passionate about growing fruits and vegetables? Would you like to spend time in the sunny outdoors?

Are you seeking an opportunity to help children and families grow their own food? Make an impact doing something that you love! Enjoy the many therapeutic benefits gardening has to offer. Contact Janine Catalino to learn more and sign up today at jcatalino@familybuildingblocks.org.

LES SCHWAB DIAPER DRIVE PROVIDED 35K DIAPERS! The annual Les Schwab Tire Center Diaper Drive provided 35,220 diapers to support children and families in our community! Not only that, with your support, participating businesses were also able to donate diapers and over $3,400 as well! Each year, the Les Schwab Tire Center Diaper Drive is held every April as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since it began in 2010, all Les Schwab Tire Centers in Marion and Polk counties participate in this incredible initiative, including Woodburn, Sublimity, Dallas, Independence, Keizer, south Salem, west Salem, Mission Street, and Lancaster.

Thirteen additional businesses also participated as diaper drop sites. Thank you to Ace Hardware West Salem, Albany Mennonite Church, Brew Coffee & Tap House, Budget Blinds of the Mid-Willamette Valley, Farmers Insurance Sublimity, Fidelity National Title, Lighthouse Financial Enterprises, MINET, Neighborly Ventures, Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce, Urban Grange Coffee & Bakery, WaFed Bank West Salem, and Willamette Valley Fiber. Did you know? Roth’s Fresh Markets provides Les Schwab with a discount on diapers to help keep the number growing every year.

A very special thank you goes to our incredible volunteers who gave 50 hours of their time and energy to support the drive this year including Maggie Zimmerman, Brian Burnside, Lyle Mordhorst, Bonnie Schroeder, Debbie Moore, Denise Busch, Rachel McCormick, Amber Hess, Nichole Jordon, and Mike Young.

Diaper insecurity is a challenging barrier that our families face. As we continue navigating the pandemic, we know our families have a growing need for consistent and safe access to diapers and supplies for their young children. To participate in 2022, please contact Julie Hilty at jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org.

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

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

TEXT TO GIVE!

DREAM BUILDER Give $1,000 a year for three years. npaxton@familybuildingblocks.org

FBB

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

TEXT FBB TO 91999

THANK YOU TO OUR PREVENTION PATRONS! PREVENTION PATRONS ARE INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES THAT SPONSOR OUR RELIEF NURSERY THERAPEUTIC EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS Thank you to our summer/fall event sponsors who transferred their sponsorship dollars to our Prevention Patrons giving program. To become a Prevention Patron, please contact Julie Hilty, Director of Business Partnerships, at jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org or call 503.566.2132.

HEALTH SPONSOR

WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM

Cascade Collections | Childhood Health Associates of Salem | Dallas Community Foundation Mid-Valley Garbage & Recycling Association | Nova Health Urgent Care - Dallas

YOU’RE INVITED

Presenting SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSOR

gold SPONSOR

silver SPONSOR

bronze SPONSORs

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021 | L.B. DAY AMPHITHEATRE AT THE OREGON STATE FAIRGROUNDS GATES OPEN: 4 PM | DOORS OPEN: 6 PM | CONCERT BEGINS: 7 PM | TICKETS AT TICKETTOMATO.COM Brett Young is one of country music’s leading artists who has captured the hearts of fans with his honest lyrics, West Coast-meets-Southern sound, aptly dubbed “Caliville” style, seven consecutive #1 hit songs, MULTI-PLATINUM sales, and more. Opening for Brett Young is Riley Green whose debut album, DIFFERENT ‘ROUND HERE, produced GOLD-certified No. 1 hit, “There Was This Girl.” Named ACM’s New Artist of the Year and nominated for Best New Country Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, Green was also selected as a CMT “Listen Up Artist” and one of MusicRow’s 2019 “Next Big Things.” 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 capitalcitylivesalem@gmail.com.

DORIS’S PLACE LUNCHEON ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 Foothills Church in Stayton, OR | 12:00-1:00 pm | FREE Celebrate the power of prevention in the Santiam Canyon. jhilty@familybuildingblocks.org

DREAM BUILDERS LUNCHEON ON OCTOBER 7, 2021 Salem Convention Center | 12:00-1:00 pm | FREE 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:

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971.301.1003 M-F, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

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

CHELSEA’S PLACE Main Office 2425 Lancaster Dr. NE Salem, OR 97305 503.566.2132 M-F, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

WOODBURN CLASSROOM First Presbyterian Church 950 N Boones Ferry Rd., Woodburn, OR 97071 971.701.0076 Temporarily closed.

Please call for assistance.

HELEN’S PLACE 180 18th St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503.798.4744 Open for Therapeutic Classroom services.

BROADWAY PLACE 1255 Broadway St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503.990.7431 Temporarily closed.

Please call for assistance.

DORIS’S PLACE Office: Santiam Center Class: Wolf Ridge Community Room 11656 Sublimity Rd. SE 1351 E Santiam St. Sublimity, OR 97385 Stayton, OR 97383 503.769.1120 503.899.3690 Temporarily closed.

Open for Therapeutic Please call for assistance.

Classroom services.

GRACIE’S PLACE 1135 Edgewater St. NW Salem, OR 97304 503.363.3057 Open for Therapeutic Classroom services.

DALLAS ACADEMY Main: Dallas Academy Building 182 SW Academy St. Ste 210 Dallas, OR 97338 971.301.1927 Open for Therapeutic Classroom services.

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