Building Blocks
1305 S Baxter Avenue
Tyler TX, 75701
Phone: 903-593-3522
Building Blocks is a program designed to help parents with the things they need most –education about childcare, support as they step into their new family role and practical help with baby items and equipment.
Building Blocks offers workshops and training, one on one sessions with a personal mentor, and a huge resource of helpful books and videos on various aspects of childbirth and childcare. Once you sign up to be part of the program you can opt to earn points by attending and learning and these can be exchanged for diapers, baby clothes etc. Building Blocks will also help their clients find larger items like car seats, cribs and high chairs if needed.
Anyone can sign up for the Building Blocks program and they don’t need to have a referral. Building Blocks has a large amount of clients who are pregnant or new Moms but others with 3 or 4 kids. Some clients have difficult family circumstances and appreciate the counselling sessions at Building Blocks while others just want to learn as much as they can in order to be the best parent they can be. Many come because they want to take advantage of the incentive program and get help with baby items.
A ministry of Living Alternatives and staffed entirely by trained volunteers, Building Blocks provides all their services free of charge. They have some bilingual staff who will help those who speak Spanish as their mother tongue.
Building Blocks has links with a local maternity home, the Pregnancy Center and an adoption agency. They will provide information and advice about lots of other local services. They have a great community support base in Tyler so are able to provide nearly new items in their ‘shop’ plus some free diapers and wipes for each client with a baby.
Building Blocks is located opposite TJC. Parking is behind the Pregnancy Resource Center next door. It is currently open 2 days a week – Monday and Tuesday from 10 am but sessions with a personal mentors may be more flexible. Large group training sessions take place once a month and include topics such as breastfeeding and first aid, tips for a contented baby and discipline for the preschool child. A free lunch is provided.
The atmosphere at Building Blocks is warm and friendly, there is a playroom and playground for the children and the staff want to do all they can to help you in your parenting role. Call Aimee if you want to find out more.