Family Building Blocks

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 1,000 children and 750 families from six locations throughout Marion and Polk counties, with a $5.5 million annual budget. We operate several family strengthening and early childhood programs led by over 100 employees, and supported by 400 volunteers and 1,700 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, and Early Head Start since 2010.

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.