Children First has been recognized as a top employer in Sarasota-Manatee in the 25 “Best Places to Work” competition. Hosted by independent firm Best Companies Group and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the competition identifies and recognizes the area’s top employers who demonstrate workplace excellence and are known for retaining and recruiting the best and brightest employees.
Companies representing thousands of local employees all vied to make the list. Selected for its mission-driven approach to employment, Children First was named the #12 top place to work in Sarasota-Manatee and was the top-ranked nonprofit organization out of the four recognized. This is the second consecutive year that the organization, Sarasota County’s exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services, has been named to this prestigious list.
In order to qualify, the agency of more than 200 staff members was asked to complete a confidential Employee Engagement & Satisfaction Survey. Worth 75% of the overall score, this process was crucial to securing a place on the list and required at least a 40% response rate to qualify. Dedicated project managers also completed a questionnaire regarding company policies, practices, and demographics.
Best Companies Group evaluated the selection and ranking of entries, analyzing participating companies in eight areas: leadership and planning; corporate culture and communications; role satisfaction; work environment; relationships with supervisors; training, development and resources; pay and benefits; and, overall engagement.
“Children First is honored to be recognized as a best place to work for the second year in a row. Since 1961, we’ve focused on our mission of strengthening children and families and providing each employee every opportunity to be successful. We have always appreciated our dedicated staff’s commitment and now, together, we celebrate what makes our agency a best place to work once again!” says CEO Philip Tavill.
About Children First:
Founded in 1961 and ranked in the top 1% out of over 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. At 15 sites throughout Sarasota County, Children First offers full-day preschool, infant and toddler care, and nutrition and health care assistance to children ages birth to five years old from low-income families. Through Children First, the children receive the social, emotional, and cognitive skills needed to enter kindergarten and elementary school on track. For more information, call (941) 953-3877 or go to childrenfirst.net.