Mission Statement

The mission of the Boosters Program is to give a "boost" to the classrooms of Charlottesville and help children adapt and improve in school. The program concentrates on the volunteer's relationship with four year old through sixth grade children who need assistance with specific skills.

The Head Start Mission

To serve low-income, disadvantaged, and special needs/disabled preschool-age children and their families within their home, classroom, neighborhood, and greater community. Provide quality comprehensive family-centered services and a developmental preschool including: a safe and enriching social learning environment that respects individual differences identifying and coordinating services and community resources for families as early as possible helping parents develop the confidence to identify their own needs and knowledge to utilize community resources.

History

The Boosters program originally started with the objective of aiding kindergarten and first grade classrooms. In 1987-88 enrollment in the program grew suddenly. A change in the structure of the program was found fitting. In the fall of 1989, the four-year-old program was added and in the spring of 1989, second grade was the program's newest addition. When the 1989-90 academic year approached, the program again required structural changes. Senior volunteers headed each site and one program director oversaw all the operations. Third and fourth grades were added to try to fulfill a wider variety of needs. During 1990-91 year the program established a new leadership style, with 8 program directors (one for each site) and one Head program Director. As another addition, we began volunteering at two of the four Head Start Programs in Charlottesville. Today, Boosters continues to be one of the fastest growing programs at Madison House. We now match about 350 volunteers each semester to work with pre-K through sixth grade, after school, and all four Head Start sites. The Boosters Program also increased the number of program directors to 12 and one Head program director.