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Children First Blog
Read our most recent newsletter HERE!
February 16, 2023
Children First, Inc., the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, is proud to announce that parent and Policy Council Liaison Maria Somera and CEO Philip Tavill have been honored by the Florida Head Start Association (FHSA) for their impact in elevating excellence in Florida’s Head Start Community.
Representing nearly [...]
February 2, 2023
Kathleen Sullivan, MACD, the Vice President of Programs at Children First, has been elected to serve on the National Head Start Association’s (NHSA) Region IV Board of Directors. In her role, Ms. Sullivan will help to oversee Head Start’s Region IV, the southeastern United States, representing more than 170,000 children, 40,000 staff and 300 [...]
February 1, 2023
We are proud to announce our slate of board leadership for 2023, and the addition of three new directors!
At our agency’s annual board reception on January 24, the Reverend Brock H. Leach was formally welcomed as Board Chair. Keith G. Johnson, VP at Truist Private Wealth, was welcomed as Vice Chair, Elizabeth [...]
October 20, 2022
As a supporter of Children First, you help us to provide high-quality early childhood education and family strengthening services to the most vulnerable children and families in our community.
We invite you to safeguard our life-changing programs for generations to come by joining our Legacy Society –Children First Forever – by notifying us of your [...]
October 12, 2022
Areli Gervacio, who now works as the receptionist at the Children First Orange Avenue campus, came here from Mexico in 2000, when she was only 15 years old. She and her sister joined her parents who had moved here four years earlier. The young mother of five children, now ranging in age from 2-18, has [...]
September 30, 2022
EDITED: October 3, 2022
September 30, 2022
Dear Children First Family,
We hope this communication finds you and your loved ones safe and well. In accordance with Sarasota County School District’s announcement today, Children First will continue to be closed through Monday, October 3 and until further notice so that we can support everyone directly impacted by Hurricane [...]
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Thank you to one of our amazing volunteers, Gayle, who visited with some of the children in our Early Head Start program in honor of Reading for Literacy Day! ![]()
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The children enjoyed the stories of Chica-Chica Boom Boom and The Hungry Caterpillar after a healthy and nutritious breakfast. #manyhandsmakelightwork
We can't wait to "sea" everyone at our annual beachside fashion show and luncheon at the picturesque Sharky's On the Pier! Limited seats and sponsorships are available - secure your spot now: www.childrenfirst.net/?p=5364
Happy Friday! ![]()
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We just had to share this sweet photo of one of our teachers, Bridget, with two of the newest and youngest children to join our program - this adorable set of twins! #twinning
In honor of World Gratitude Day, we'd like to say THANK YOU to the Jerome & Mildred Paddock Foundation for providing our agency with a grant of $50,000 in support of our family strengthening services!![]()
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Our family strengthening services encompass a comprehensive range of programs, including prenatal education, early childhood development initiatives, parent training and support, and access to essential resources. #gratitude
We are honored to be featured by our partners at the Florida Head Start Association! ![]()
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Being named as a Top Workplace in our region is a testament to the incredible work and commitment that our staff, families, and supporters put in each and every day. Thank you!#ThankfulThursday this week goes to Children First, Inc. for recently being named as Top Workplace in Sarasota-Manatee for the fifth consecutive year. In addition, Children First also received national recognition through Top Workplaces USA in the nonprofit category. We are so excited to congratulate Children First on this major accomplishment! Help us share the celebration in the comments🎉![]()
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For more information visit these links- ![]()
www.tampabaynewswire.com/2023/09/05/children-first-named-as-top-workplace-in-sarasota-manatee-for...![]()
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sarasotanewsleader.com/children-first-recognized-as-top-employer-in-sarasota-manatee-area-for-fif...
December 14, 2016
At Children First, our work goes well beyond child care: the education and nurturing environment that we provide actually impact the brain development of our children. Our teachers and volunteers, in partnership with parents and caregivers, help our students to gain the cognitive, social and emotional skills they need to succeed in kindergarten, college and [...]
February 27, 2017
![Elizabeth [...]](https://www.childrenfirst.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Liz-Stamoulis-edit-scaled.jpg){kind=link}
Numerous studies assert that children in families with incomes below the poverty line are less likely to be read to every day than are children in families with incomes at or above poverty. Due to a combination of factors related to income disparity, by the time children are 5 years old, the ones in poorer [...]
