Child Protection Center Awarded $10,000 Grant for Abuse Prevention

January 5, 2021 – Sarasota

The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) has been awarded a $10,000 grant through the generous support of the Harold C. & Jaqueline F. Bladel Charitable Trust to support CPC’s Personal Safety and Community Awareness Program (PSCA).

The Personal Safety Team helps children learn strategies to respond appropriately and effectively to threats of sexual abuse, physical abuse, abduction, or bullying and harassment. While these workshops typically take place in person in schools across the county, PSCA has adapted to COVID-19 restrictions and continues to share the prevention messages virtually.   

“These messages are crucially needed as families are experiencing varied new stressors in their home,” said CPC’s Executive Director, Doug Staley. “Unfortunately, the Child Protection Center has seen a rise in physical and sexual abuse cases in the last several months.”

The Trust has long supported the prevention program of CPC. This continued funding of PSCA will impact thousands of children in Sarasota County, aiding in the creation of a future in which children are empowered and educated, adults are aware and equipped and our community is a safer place for children and families.

The Child Protection Center’s mission is the Prevention, Intervention, & Treatment of Child Abuse. CPC has been serving Sarasota & DeSoto Counties since 1980. In Fiscal Year 2019-2020, PSCA reached 65,627 participants. Over 98% of children and adult participants demonstrated an increase in knowledge of child maltreatment and/or could identify how to protect themselves after attending a PSCA workshop. For more information on CPC, please visit CPCSarasota.org or call 941-365-1277.