The Child Protection Center

The Child Protection Center Serving Sarasota and DeSoto Counties since 1980. CPC's mission is in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse.

The Child Protection Center is a nonprofit and nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center dedicated to the prevention, intervention, & treatment of child abuse.

CPC's own Danielle Hughes and Kriste Murphy of the Child Protection Team joined forces with Safe Place and R**e Crisis C...
06/02/2026

CPC's own Danielle Hughes and Kriste Murphy of the Child Protection Team joined forces with Safe Place and R**e Crisis Center (SPARCC Sarasota) and Sarasota Memorial Health Care System staff to co-present best practices for responding to pediatric and adult sexual assault. This powerhouse group presented to ER nurses from DeSoto Memorial Hospital, who are frequently the first point of intervention for survivors.

The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant and their Victim Advocate joined later, further enriching the conversation, deepening cross-agency collaboration, and establishing a safer and more compassionate standard for handling these situations and supporting survivors and families in crisis.

"It was such a meaningful day!" Danielle said as she discussed the impact of so many different organizations and people coming together under a shared commitment — to show up for survivors and get it right 💙

Did you know that the Child Protection Center is the only provider in Sarasota County specialized in child physical and ...
06/01/2026

Did you know that the Child Protection Center is the only provider in Sarasota County specialized in child physical and sexual abuse treatments, free of charge?

It is the honor of a lifetime to be able to help survivors and their families find peace and hope. This is the healing you make possible when you support CPC and the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse.

💙 Want to make this possible for more families?
Visit: https://cpcsarasota.org/get-involved/donate/

Our hearts are brimming with gratitude! Once again, this community has come through for CPC and the children we serve by...
05/29/2026

Our hearts are brimming with gratitude! Once again, this community has come through for CPC and the children we serve by recognizing our organization as one of the top nonprofits in the 2026 Best of SRQ.

Because of your votes, we are honored to have been awarded GOLD 🥇 for the Best Local Health Nonprofit, SILVER 🥈 for the Best Local Children’s Nonprofit, and Honorable Mention for the Best Local Nonprofit, Nonprofit Leader, and Place to Work.

This recognition means so much to our entire team, but more than that, it is an extraordinary achievement in raising awareness of our services and resources for families in vulnerable situations. That means:
💙 More children brought to safety.
💙 More families supported through healing.
💙 More members of our community understanding that the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse is not someone else's responsibility — it belongs to all of us.

By showing up and voting, you brought our mission to people who may not have known we existed. And because of that, more children will find their way to safety and healing.

We could not be more grateful for this community — filled not only with compassion, but with the drive to take real, concrete action. Truly, thank you!!

As the adults in children's lives — parents, teachers, coaches, neighbors — we have such an extraordinary opportunity to...
05/27/2026

As the adults in children's lives — parents, teachers, coaches, neighbors — we have such an extraordinary opportunity to notice what others might miss.

Mental health challenges in children don't always announce themselves. They can look like a stomachache before school, a child who quietly stops doing the things they once loved, or a level of worry, anger, or sadness that seems out of proportion to what's happening around them.

These are often labeled as behavioral problems, but they are actually signs of a struggle that children don't have the ability to express or even fully understand. When we shift our mindset from 'this is a problem that needs my correction' to 'this is a signal that needs my curiosity and compassion,' it can make all the difference to a child who is struggling.

If you're noticing any of these signals from a child in your life, we hope you'll check out the Healthy Coping Skills, Regulation, and Repair page in our Resource Library! It's full of practical tips, advice, and examples to support children (and yourself!) through difficult moments. You can find it at cpcsarasota.org/resources.

While coping and regulation skills are a great starting point, nothing replaces the potential for understanding, healing, and support found through a therapist that's a good fit for your child's needs.

We hope this is helpful to the families and educators in our community. Be sure to share it with the caregivers you know 💙

Today, we honor the immense courage of those who have sacrificed everything to protect future generations and their righ...
05/25/2026

Today, we honor the immense courage of those who have sacrificed everything to protect future generations and their right to a childhood of safety, freedom, and love. We remember you today and always 💙

An educated community is a safer one! Over the past 34 years, more than 900,000 children, caregivers, and professionals ...
05/21/2026

An educated community is a safer one! Over the past 34 years, more than 900,000 children, caregivers, and professionals have been educated (free of charge!) in child safety through our prevention program.

CPC's Personal Safety & Community Awareness program (PSCA) is Florida's longest-tenured child abuse prevention program. Last year alone, our educators reached over 50,000 people across our community, empowering kids on topics such as body safety, bullying, empathy, internet safety, stress, and how to speak up when something feels wrong.

We ALL have the responsibility to keep kids safe, so this accessible knowledge and support doesn't stop at the school door. Workshops designed specifically to educate adults on protecting kids are available at no cost for your family, your workplace, your place of worship, or your neighborhood.

We can all play a part in stopping abuse before it happens. Book a free workshop at cpcsarasota.org/resources

A huge thank you to Sarasota County Schools for being partners in prevention!

Today is National Rescue Dog Day, and we couldn't let it pass without celebrating some very special members of the CPC f...
05/20/2026

Today is National Rescue Dog Day, and we couldn't let it pass without celebrating some very special members of the CPC family! 🐾

Our PAWS therapy dogs can make all the difference for children and families who are healing in the aftermath of child abuse. These pups are a source of emotional support for survivors during some of their hardest moments — in therapy sessions, forensic interviews, supervised family visitations, and the courtroom. They offer something no one else in the room can in quite the same way: unconditional love, courage, and comfort.

Some of these sweet PAWS pups are rescue dogs themselves. After coming from hard beginnings, they now help to rescue others through wagging tails and puppy kisses.

We are so proud of this program and grateful to every handler who makes it possible 💙

Florida ranks #2 in the nation for child hot car deaths — and the risk starts now, not just in peak summer months.Over ...
05/20/2026

Florida ranks #2 in the nation for child hot car deaths — and the risk starts now, not just in peak summer months.

Over half of all hot car deaths are because a child was forgotten in a car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "You may be asking yourself: How does this happen? Families who lost a loved one thought the same thing at one point, but then the tragedy happened to them."

Swipe for six tips that could save a life and be sure to share this with the caregivers you know.

We had some very special visitors yesterday! Our day was brightened immensely when two Daisies from a local Girl Scout t...
05/19/2026

We had some very special visitors yesterday! Our day was brightened immensely when two Daisies from a local Girl Scout troupe stopped by to donate proceeds from their cookie sales.

As first time donors, the girls got to drop yellow marbles into the Pillar of Hope (which join the blue marbles that have been dropped by the children who come to CPC for child abuse services, showing clients that they are loved, supported, and not alone in their journey). They also stopped by the PAWS wall to see how cute the therapy pups are!

Moments like these fill us with such hope and appreciation. These families and fellow Girl Scout leaders are doing far more than a simple act of kindness – they’re encouraging empathy and introducing conversations about health, personal safety, and support to the younger generations. This is how we build a safer and more loving future for our little ones 💙

In recognition of and , CPC staff joined communities across the nation in the annual National Crime Victims’ Rights 5...
05/15/2026

In recognition of and , CPC staff joined communities across the nation in the annual National Crime Victims’ Rights 5K. Together, participants walked and ran to honor survivors, raise awareness, and support healing.

Thank you to everyone who took part and helped shine a light on the importance of advocacy and prevention!

Address

Main Office: 720 S Orange Avenue
Sarasota, FL
34236

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+19413651277

Website

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