OUR IMPACT
ECONOMIC IMPACT
OUR THERAPEUTIC EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS
Our intake team completes eligibility screens with families at local hospitals, WIC classes, the teen parent program, on the phone, and in person for walk-ins. Families who are eligible for and interested in services receive phone support from an intake specialist until the family is enrolled in services or their situation has stabilized. The intake specialist monitors caseloads and utilizes each program’s service delivery priorities to identify which families are offered services when caseloads have openings.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
RELIEF NURSERY
Certified by the Oregon Association of Relief Nurseries
Est. 1997
The first Relief Nursery in Oregon opened in Eugene in the 1970's, and today there are over 28 Relief Nurseries statewide working to end the intergenerational cycle of child abuse and neglect. As the Relief Nursery serving Marion and Polk counties, Family Building Blocks is the first and only organization to implement Therapeutic Classrooms and Therapeutic Home Visitation for infants and toddlers in our community.
HEALTHY FAMILIES
Part of Healthy Families Oregon
Accredited by Healthy Families America
Est. 2003
Family Building Blocks is the sole provider of Healthy Families home visiting services in Marion and Polk counties. This evidence-based program allows staff to screen families for eligibility at local hospitals. This program serves families prenatally through a child’s third birthday.
EARLY HEAD START
Audited annually by Federal Head Start and the
Department of Health & Human Services
Est. 2010
Early Head Start is a federal program serving families living in a defined geographic region with children up to age three. Family Building Blocks has offered Early Head Start home visiting and classroom services since 2010.
QUALIFICATIONS & APPLICATIONS: Click here
ANNUAL REPORT: 2014/2015 | 2015/2016 | 2016/2017 | 2017/2018 | 2018/2019
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS 2018: English | Español
FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH
Available at Jeanette's Place
Est. 2020
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.
THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOMS
Therapeutic Classrooms provide a safe, nurturing environment to support healthy development and healing from trauma for children ages six weeks to five years. Focused on the healthy social and emotional development of young children, Therapeutic Classrooms are an innovative strategy that incorporate evidence-based curriculum, research on brain development, and early childhood expertise to develop resilience in children.
HOME VISITING
Home Visits are designed to strengthen the bond and attachment between parent and child. Our Home Visitors bring age-appropriate information and activities to engage the family while also provide referrals to ensure access to medical services and resources for meeting basic needs, and help parents identify and accomplish goals leading to self-sufficiency.
PARENT EDUCATION
Parents gain leadership skills and take courses to support their family's growth and development through parent advisory groups, training workshops, and one-on-one coaching. Parents can choose to participate in our Parent Leadership Group or Early Head Start Policy Council to receive additional leadership training, and the opportunity to provide input to Family Building Blocks regarding program policies, activities, and planning.
RESPITE CARE
Respite Care is a self-care service for parents partnering with Family Building Blocks who need to attend a scheduled appointment, meeting, or simply need a break, to place their children in scheduled care for several hours each month.
FOOD PANTRY
Families partnering with Family Building Blocks receive emergency food boxes through our partnership with Marion-Polk Food Share. Non-perishable food donations are accepted year-round at our locations to support the needs of families parenting young children in Marion and Polk counties.
CLOTHING CLOSET
Quality and gently used children's clothing is available to families through our Clothing Closet. There is always a need for additional donations of gently used clothing for children ages infant to five years.
COMMUNITY REFERRALS
Parents are connected to needed community resources and services including local food banks, medical and dental providers, housing, child care, Head Start, support for basic needs, substance abuse counseling, domestic violence programs, and other charitable organizations that may be able to help families during a crisis.
OUR STORY
Family Building Blocks has grown significantly since our founding as a Relief Nursery in 1997. From our humble start as a small, church basement operation, we have grown into a well-established social services agency serving over 1,200 children and 800 families from nine locations throughout Marion and Polk counties. We operate several family strengthening and early childhood programs led by over 100 employees, and supported by 400 volunteers and 1,700 donors annually.
Jack and Pam Scott, donors of the Chelsea's Place facility in Northeast Salem
Sue Miller, founder of Family Building Blocks, at the dedication of Chelsea's Place in 1999
At the height of a meth epidemic in the mid-1990’s and amidst weekly reports of devastating cases of child abuse and neglect in Marion County, a group of concerned community members including Sue Miller, Deanna Smith, and Dick Withnell visited the Relief Nursery in Eugene, Oregon. Eugene’s Relief Nursery was established in the 1970’s and was the first of its kind in Oregon. Inspired by the model and outcomes, these outstanding citizens started mobilizing support to establish a Relief Nursery in Salem. The Oregon Commission of Children and Families received a Federal Health & Human Services grant in 1996 which provided start-up funding. In September 1997, Family Building Blocks began operating Therapeutic Classrooms at the United Methodist Church. We are indebted to Sue Miller’s vision and her dedication to children and families. Sue served as our founding Executive Director and her strong leadership guided the organization for 16 years.
Family Building Blocks has provided Relief Nursery services since 1997, Healthy Families services since 2003, Early Head Start since 2010, and the Family Mental Health Program since 2020.
Patrice Altenhofen, Executive Director (2012-present), and Amelia
Ribbon cutting ceremony at Helen's Place in Southeast Salem | September 2016
Patrice Altenhofen became Executive Director of Family Building Blocks in 2012. Prior to FBB, Patrice worked for Cascade Employers Association for 19 years, serving as President 2006-2012. While at Cascade, she volunteered for FBB with her daughters, an experience which inspired a calling for a new career path directly supporting local families in crisis. Patrice is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Oregonians, and currently serves on several local boards furthering the purpose of the Oregon Association of Relief Nurseries. Patrice values a strength-based leadership approach, and has infused this positive and productive culture into the organizations she has led. Patrice has graduate degrees in both Law and Business Administration from Willamette University. She is a native Oregonian.
“I am thrilled Patrice has joined Family Building Blocks as our new Executive Director! Her wealth of experience in building and leading healthy, successful organizations will be highly valuable as FBB continues learning and growing to meet the needs of our community. Most of all, I’m looking forward to seeing Patrice’s energy, dedication, wisdom, and passion as she leads our incredible staff and inspires our generous donors – continuing to serve children and families in our community in powerful, effective ways. Family Building Blocks has been blessed with a strong foundation over the last 15 years and our Board of Directors confidently believes our best years are ahead!”
- Brian Johnston, Board Chair 2013-2016
CHELSEA'S PLACE (Main Office)
2425 Lancaster Dr. NE
Salem, OR 97305
503.566.2132
Est. 1999
Programs & Services: Four Therapeutic Classrooms, Home Visiting services, and development team headquarters
Chelsea’s Place was our first permanent location after offering services from the basement of the United Methodist Church in downtown Salem from 1997-1999. The building previously was home to the popular Chelsea’s Restaurant and Pie Shop. Jack and Pam Scott very generously donated the building to Family Building Blocks. In honor of their extraordinary gift, we named the location Chelsea’s Place. Chelsea Scott is the daughter of Jack and Pam, and the name also pays tribute to the family restaurant legacy.
GRACIE'S PLACE
1135 Edgewater St. NE
Salem, OR 97304
503.566.2132
Est. 2007
Programs & Services: One Therapeutic Classroom, Home Visiting services, and two classrooms currently leased by Community Action Agency Head Start
Long-time supporter Dick Withnell donated this building, previously used as a bank location. We wanted to honor Dick’s gift and offered him the opportunity to name this location. Dick chose to honor the memory of his mother, Gracie.
DORIS'S PLACE
Cascade Resource Center
574 N 11th St
Aumsville, OR 97325
503.566.2132
Est. 2010
Programs & Services: One Therapeutic Classroom, Home Visiting, parenting classes, and playgroups
The Oregon Community Foundation – Doris J. Wipper Fund Trustees, including the late Ted Freres, are major supporters of our work in the Santiam Canyon. They encouraged us to bring our prevention programs to families living in the rural towns of Aumsville, Lyons, Mehama, Mill City, Sublimity, and Stayton. The late Doris Wipper was a beloved member of the Freres family who own Freres Lumber Co. in addition to being corporate sponsors of Doris’s Place and supporting FBB’s programing annually. Doris served as the chief financial officer for Freres Lumber Co. for many years and established a fund to provide opportunities for future generations.
HELEN'S PLACE
180 18th St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503.566.2132
Est. 2016
Programs & Services: Early Head Start program, Home Visiting services, and Therapeutic Classrooms
Families in the under served area of south and southeast Salem can easily access our prevention programs and services in this new facility, named after the mother of Larry Tokarski. Thanks to Mr. Tokarski, Mountain West Investment Corporation, and the Larry and Jeanette Epping Family Fund through the Salem Foundation, Helen's Place is one of our certified Relief Nurseries as of September 2016.
WOODBURN PLACE
First Presbyterian Church
950 N Boones Ferry Road Woodburn, OR 97071
503.566.2132
Est. 2019
Programs & Services: Therapeutic Classroom and Home Visiting services
Families in north Marion County can now access these prevention programs and services in our new physical location in their community. Special thanks to community partners including Salem Family YMCA, Marion County Court Care, Polk County Family & Community Outreach, Randy and Robyn Compton, First Presbyterian Church, Mountain West Investment Corporation, Salem Health, and Dick and Gayle Withnell.
JEANETTE'S PLACE
1787 State St NE,
Salem, OR 97301
503.566.2132
Est. 2021
Programs & Services: Family Mental Health Program, By Appointment Only
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.
INDY PLACE
1601 Monmouth St, Suite 101
Independence, OR 97351
503.566.2132
Est. 2022
Programs & Services: One Therapeutic Classroom, Home Visiting services, and playgroups
Families seeking services in rural Polk County have access to a Family Building Blocks classroom and playgroup space, co-locating at the Central Health and Wellness Center in partnership with Central School District and Salem Health.
FREEMAN PLACE
3772 Portland Rd NE, Suite A
Salem, OR 97301
503.566.2132
Est. 2022
Programs & Services: Healthy Families program and Home Visiting services
Families in Marion and Polk counties have access to our Healthy Families program and Home Visiting services through our leased space in this centrally located office building. Home Visitors spend much of their week traveling to families’ homes, and having downtown office space allows them to check in with their supervisor and replenish supplies.
JAN'S PLACE
Morningside United Methodist Church
3674 12th St SE
Salem, OR 97302
503.566.2132
Est. 2022
Programs & Services: Early Head Start Classrooms
In partnership with Morningside United Methodist Church, this site will be called “Jan’s Place” after Jan Alsever, who raised her family in this neighborhood with her husband, John. Jan and John generously supported young children and their families for many years, and also included Family Building Blocks in their estate.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors is a key link with the broader community. Our Board is responsible for ensuring all programs are mission-focused and providing fiscal oversight for the agency. Board members bring expertise in law, accounting, business ownership and management, early childhood education, equity, health care, public health, and faith-based communities, among other skills.
OFFICERS
NANCY MACMORRIS-ADIX
Chair
Retired, Legacy Silverton Midwives
RICH SCHULTZ
Past Chair
Cherry City Metals
MIKE BLANCHARD
Treasuer
Johnson, Glaze & Co.
JEFF MOORE
Secretary
Saalfeld Griggs, PC
BOARD MEMBERS
STEVE ALTMAN
True Private Wealth Advisors
ROSS CAREY
Retired, U.S. Bank
GINA DEFA WHITE
COUNTRY Financial
WALT EDMONDS
Retired, Court of Appeals
HANNAH FOUTS
Chair, Young Leaders Council
DEANA FRERES
Santiam Canyon Long Term Recovery Group
VACANT
Representing Partnering Families
LEVI HERRERA-LOPEZ
Mano a Mano
DANAE JOHNSON
Capital Financial Planners
BRIAN JOHNSTON
Dallas Glass & Window
ROB KANSKY
Green Acres Landscape
LILLIAN KAY
HomeSmart Realty Group
DIANE MCLARAN
Chemeketa Community College
WES MCWHORTER
Premier Remodeling & Design
JERRY MOORE
Retired, Salem Chief of Police
CHRISTY PERRY
Retired Superintendent, Salem-Keizer Public Schools
MARNI REDDING
Mother Tree Olive Grove and The Arbor
LEILANI SLAMA
Salem Health
R. TAYLOR
Chemeketa Community College
ERNESTO TOSKOVIC
KeyBank
REBECCA WULF
Owner, B Salon
PATRICE ALTENHOFEN
Executive Director