New Child Abuse Prevention Center Opens in Polk County

Family Building Blocks still needs to raise $420,000 to develop the children’s playground and to help support program operations for the first 3 years.

Photo courtesy: Family Building Blocks

(SALEM, Ore.) - Family Building Blocks, a child abuse prevention program serving young children and their families in Marion and Polk counties, saw an opportunity to expand their services into Polk County and grasped it.

After a year long capital campaign raising over $1.3 million, FBB has completely renovated the former credit union building in West Salem located at 1135 Edgewater Street into a new facility dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect.

Gracie’s Place will offer programs to keep children safe and families together. These will include Therapeutic Classrooms, Outreach Services and Home Visits as well as a clothes closet and referral services.

Family Building Blocks still needs to raise $420,000 to develop the children’s playground and to help support program operations for the first 3 years. If you are interested in helping with these efforts, please contact Brenda Kidder at 503-566-2132 or bkidder@familybuildingblocks.org.

In 2006 in Polk County 250 children were confirmed victims of child abuse, a 25% increase from the previous year. With the increase in growth in this county also comes the increase in need for FBB’s services.

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FBB works to break the multi-generational cycle of abuse and neglect by providing services to high-risk families with children six weeks to five years old. Research shows that investing in prevention services saves not only money but lives.

“We are thrilled to have a satellite Relief Nursery facility opening in Polk County. This will enable us to take some of the 250 children off our waiting list for services. We hope to serve at least 70 children and their families in 2008 at Gracie’s Place. None of this would have been possible without overwhelming support from the community,” said Sue Miller, Executive Director of Family Building Blocks.

The entire Salem community is invited to join the Family Building Blocks’ Board and staff at the grand opening of Gracie’s Place Thursday, January 17th from 4:30-6:00 PM at 1135 Edgewater Street. Tours and refreshments will be provided.

Source: Press release