By Mary Owen
Family Building Block has a new home that will allow for expanding services to at-risk children and families living in East Marion County.
“FBB has moved in with the Santiam YMCA,” said Julie Hilty, FBB’s community outreach coordinator. “We hosted our first event, a holiday playgroup, on Dec. 18. We continue to host three playgroups a month at our new location.”
An open house for FBB’s new Doris’ Place will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, in conjunction with the Stayton/Sublimity Chamber of Commerce’s Greeters at the new location, 383 N. Third Ave. in downtown Stayton. The program portion of the event will start at 8:30 a.m. Complimentary refreshments will be served.
Doris’s Place will allow FBB to offer “a variety of ways for parents and their children to interact in a healthy, supportive environment,” Hilty said.
“Our location and playgroups provide parents the opportunity to meet other peers and establish healthy support systems while strengthening the bond with their children” she added.
“Playgroups also allow hands-on parenting time with the children in a child-friendly environment. We know parenting is difficult. We also know that all parents want the very best for their children. That is why we want to offer a space where families can get out of the house and have some fun together, to meet other parents going through the same challenges and struggles of parenting.”
A grant from the Doris J. Wipper Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation provided the funding for FBB’s programs, which also include home visitation services to 30 at-risk families living in Stayton, Lyons and Mehama. These Santiam Canyon families face problems such as poverty, isolation, lack of transportation, mental illness and drug and/or alcohol addictions, according to FBB.
Family Building Blocks works to break the intergenerational cycle of child abuse and neglect by providing services for high-risk families with young children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years. The private, nonprofit organization provides children and families with parent education and training as well as the home visits and parent-child interactive playgroups.
“Providing education and support to high-risk parents has proven to be a successful strategy toward reaching FBB’s mission of keeping children safe and families together,” Hilty said. “Our playgroup environment is modeled after our therapeutic classrooms where you will find a reading nook, sensory play table, toddler climbing gym and dramatic play area.”
Additionally, arts and crafts tables and a snack table provide parents and children with a place to enjoy quality time and a healthy snack together, Hilty added.
“We are providing a safe, nurturing environment that encourages exploration and play and hands-on parenting time for families in our community,” she said. “This is important because a child’s experiences in the first three years of their life are the most crucial for building the foundation for the child’s future success. FBB’s early childhood services foster healthy brain development and healthy positive support and education for parents.”
According to FBB statistics for 2011, 99 percent of the children involved in its core prevention programs were able to live safely with their parents, thus avoiding abuse, neglect and foster care.
“Family Building Blocks is excited to immerse ourselves in Stayton and surrounding areas,” Hilty said. “We have been humbled by the community partnerships and welcoming residents and business owners. We look forward to partnering with the community to enrich the lives of families with young children.”
For information, visit www.familybuildingblocks.org or call 503-769-1120.
