Children First recognized among top employers once again in Sarasota and Manatee counties

Nonprofit is the county’s Head Start provider

This is one of the banners on Children First’s website. Image courtesy Children First

For the third consecutive year, Children First has been recognized as a top employer in Sarasota and Manatee counties in the “Best Places to Work” competition hosted by the independent firm Best Companies Group and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Children First has announced.

“[T]he competition identifies and recognizes our area’s top employers who demonstrate workplace excellence and are known for retaining and recruiting the best and brightest employees,” a news release explains.

“Companies representing thousands of local employees all vied to make the list,” the release continues. “Children First was one of four nonprofit organizations to be recognized,” the release adds. It ultimately was selected for its “mission-driven approach to employment,” the release notes. “To qualify, our agency of more than 200 staff members was asked to complete a confidential Employee Engagement & Satisfaction Survey worth 75% of the overall score,” the release explains.

“As we celebrate our 60th anniversary and my 25th anniversary as CEO, Children First is deeply honored to be recognized as a best place to work for the third year in a row,” CEO Philip Tavill said in the release. “Since 1961, we’ve concentrated on our mission of strengthening children and families and providing each employee every opportunity to be successful,” he continued. “During this tumultuous time, our amazing team has remained laser-focused on their commitment to serving our community and now, together, we celebrate them in making Children First the best place to work every day!” Tavill added in the release.

Founded in 1961 and ranked in the top 1% out of more than 1,800 Head Starts nationwide, “Children First strengthens children and families by improving the quality of their lives through a comprehensive approach to development, education, health, and well-being,” the release says. “At 15 sites throughout Sarasota County, Children First offers full-day preschool, infant and toddler care, and nutrition and health care assistance” to children from birth to age 5 in low-income families, the release points out.

For more information, call 941-953-3877 or visit childrenfirst.net.