Communities United, Inc.

History

In 1970, a group of concerned parents, town officials and community volunteers formed Communities United, Inc., then a pilot program supported solely by Head Start funding with the purpose of providing comprehensive services in education, social services, health and parenting. At that time, CUI served a preschool population of 3-5 year olds for half-days in five communities. By 1980, the staff had grown to 50 and the program served 180 children.

 

Over the next ten years, the number of staff and children served doubled. The need for full-day childcare became a growing issue, and by 1995 CUI becomes a lead agency for state-funded Community Partnership Grants (CPG). CPG provided tuition subsidies enabling families to afford full day care for their children.

 

Today the agency’s 80 employees serve approximately 350 children, of infant, toddler and preschool age, from eleven unique suburban communities along the Rte. 128 belt. These communities are Arlington, Belmont, Brookline, Burlington, Lexington, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley and Woburn.

 

Mission & Goals

Communities United, Inc.’s mission is to provide high quality education and family services to a diverse population of children, ages 4 months to 5 years. We strive to ensure the success of the child, empower the family and strengthen the community. Our vision is to:

 

• Offer economically integrated programs in the communities we serve, so that all children in our programs, regardless of economic status, benefit from all of our services.

• Secure high quality staff, facilities and resources that foster excellence in all aspects of our operations.

• Ensure that our staff and parents see themselves as lifelong learners committed to superior early childhood development.

• Continue to appreciate diversity and strive to see this reflected in our staff and governing boards.

• Continue to demonstrate leadership in developing quality early childhood programs for our communities and to foster leadership in the field.

 

The goal of Communities United, Inc. is to give preschool children and families an opportunity to experience growth by providing an environment that encourages participation and interaction in a full range of developmentally appropriate activities. We strive to increase the ability of children and families to cope with and initiate change in their lives and build upon the gains made through their experiences.