About Us
Our Mission
It is the mission of Little Blessings Nurturing Center to offer a high quality program that provides faith-based learning and guidance to economically at risk children and their families. Little Blessings will do so in such a way as to make a qualitative and quantitative difference in the lives of the families we serve.
Little Blessings Nurturing Center
The seeds we plant today are the harvest for tomorrow. When it comes to the children in our community, no truer words can be written or spoken. Little Blessings Nurturing Center is a private, not-for-profit corporation founded in 2003 that provides faith-based learning and guidance to at-risk children and their families. It targets economically disadvantaged children whose primary caregivers are willing to make a voluntary commitment of time to assist with the program.
The privately funded program in Columbus, Georgia, is a grassroots community effort that provides transportation, nutritional meals, school supplies and education five days a week (Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 noon). The program is provided at no cost to the families it serves and follows the Muscogee County school year. The school is also open for 7 weeks during summer.
Small classes, big benefits
Little Blessings believes that small class sizes are the best way to provide the children with the necessary one-on-one attention that their young ages require. Little Blessings is staffed with a professional administrator and an educated, well-trained staff. The education process doesn’t stop with the children. Their parents are asked to voluntarily spend three hours per semester in the classroom. An additional 15 hours are required in Bible study and parenting workshops, which are designed to teach them the skills to provide guidance to improve their lives.
Building on success
Little Blessings is modeled after a successful program in Houston, Texas, called Small Steps. It has grown to become a nationally recognized model for nurturing preschool children. The goal at Little Blessings is to replicate that success and build upon it. In doing so, we hope to close the gap of disparity that exists among children of all races, ethnicities and backgrounds.
Results, not repeats
The results of Little Blessings are tangible and measurable. Studies have shown that children benefit greatly from early education and developmental training.
According to an A.J. Reynolds study of Chicago Child-Parent Centers, children in quality childcare programs:
• Have a 26% greater high school graduation rate;
• Are 35% less likely to be held back in school;
• Are 60% less likely to have a juvenile arrest.
Help end the cycle
The Little Blessings program teaches developmental skills and age appropriate concepts that prepare each child for kindergarten while building a foundation for the future. Little Blessings is a solution to an issue that’s important for the health and economy of our community. An investment in a child yields dividends that compound for many years to come. Little Blessings can make a difference in the lives of many young children.
Our Facility
Little Blessings Nurturing Center’s 9,000 square foot facility, located near the new regional library complex, includes a kitchen, common play area, a clinic and classrooms for 2, 3, and 4 year-olds, plus administrative offices.
Transportation
We have 3 buses that collect the children from their homes in the mornings and drop them back in the afternoons after school.
Attendance
On average Little Blessings experiences a 96% daily attendance rate at the school which is extremely high.
Funding
Little Blessings depends entirely on private funding. We do not receive State or Federal financial support. To make a donation please click here.
How to Register your Child
Click below to download a Registration Form – complete and mail to:
Little Blessings Nurturing Center
1700 Boxwood Place
Columbus, GA 31906
Registration Forms: *Note
all Registration forms are the same. We
are providing multiple formats for your
convenience. If a link below does not
download the Registration form please try one of
the other formats.
Click here for
regular web based form (most
compatible format)
Click here for
Adobe Acrobat form
Click here for
Microsoft Word form
Philosophy and Beliefs
We believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that we are called to share God’s love with others.
We believe that children and adults learn and grow in a positive and respectful environment that takes into account development, ability, personality, culture, needs, learning style, interests and goals.
We believe that, for a program to be successful, families need to feel welcome and to be involved at several levels: committing to their children’s regular attendance, volunteering their own time/ talents, and participating in workshops.
It is our hope that children and their families grow in their understanding of what it means to be a Christian as we share stories about God’s people and their journeys of faith.
In short, we believe that the seeds we plant today are the harvest for tomorrow.
We ask God’s blessings on the children, families, staff, and volunteers of Little Blessings Nurturing Center.
Board of Directors
2007-2008
Julie Bond
Kriss Cloninger
Lisa Cloninger
Lisa Clark
Sallie Martin
Tracy Martin-Immelman
A.J. Morris
Dan Parker
Jennifer Spinks
Executive Director
Brenda Pate
Director of Marketing
Judy Russell
Administrative Assistant
Kandee Howard
|
