Founded in Salem, Oregon in 1997, Family Building Blocks is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and certified Relief Nursery committed to "Keeping Children Safe and Families Together" in Marion and Polk Counties. 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-estab
lished social services agency serving over 1,300 children and 850 families from nine locations throughout Marion and Polk counties, with a $11 million annual budget. We operate several family strengthening and early childhood programs led by over 125 employees, and supported by 400 volunteers and 1,900 donors annually. 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 Family Mental Health since 2020. 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.
