The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) has been named a 2024 Best of Florida Regional Winner for Charitable Organizations. The nonprofit is recognized for 45 years of excellence in providing child abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment services in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. Best of Florida is an annual competition hosted by Guide to Florida, allowing all Floridians to use their voice and voting power to support local businesses and organizations of superior quality. CPC’s Executive Director Douglas Staley said, “Recognition such as this raises awareness of CPC and the vital work we do in protecting children from abuse, which leads to more advocates using their voices to speak out, more children being educated in personal safety, more volunteers joining our team, better opportunities for funding....all of which means more safe childhoods.” Last year alone, CPC reached over 65,000 individuals through its four core programs, each of which provides vital services for children and families who are vulnerable to or have experienced the traumas of child abuse. The Personal Safety and Community Awareness Program is Florida's longest tenured prevention program. Through providing essential child abuse prevention education, it has reached 800,000+ individuals throughout its history. The Child Protection Team is a state-mandated program that facilitates medical examinations, forensic interviews, and court testimonies. Locally, CPT is the only authorized provider of these services. The Children and Families Supervised Visitation Program provides a safe, neutral environment for non-custodial caregivers to rebuild relationships with their child. 70+ volunteers make this program possible. CPC's Therapy Programs help survivors live a healthy, restored life after their traumas. We are the only no-cost provider in Sarasota County specialized in child physical and sexual abuse treatments. The Child Protection Center’s (CPC) mission is the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse, as the organization envisions a community where children are safe from abuse and free to thrive. For 45 years, CPC has been serving Sarasota and DeSoto Counties in the State of Florida and is accredited by the National Children’s Alliance. For more information on CPC or to inquire about ways to get involved, please visit them at www.cpcsarasota.org or call 941-365-1277.