The team coordinator of the First Coast Child Protection Team was honored this week by the Jacksonville Division of the FBI.

Valerie A. Stanley was presented the Director’s Community Leadership Award by James Casey, special agent in charge of the local FBI office.

Stanley came to the Jacksonville-area team in 1999 as a case coordinator and was promoted to her current role in 2003. The University of Florida took over the contract to run the team in 2005.

Stanley was nominated by the FBI Cyber Squad, which works closely with the Child Protection Team (CPT) in investigating crimes with youth victims.

"I am very honored and humbled to receive the award," Stanley said. "CPT is grateful for our relationship with the FBI and their recognition of the benefit using our center when children were involved with their investigations."

Stanley said the work would not be possible without the tremendous support from CPT staff and the University of Florida College of Medicine—Jacksonville Department of Pediatrics.

Each FBI division across the country gives one award to recognize individuals and organizations that have made contributions to educating their communities about problems including violence, cybercrimes and terrorism.

Past Jacksonville recipients of the award include former sheriff Nat Glover, Ann Dugger of the Justice Coalition, philanthropist Delores Barr Weaver, Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda and Robin Sorensen of Firehouse Subs, Inc.

Stanley and other recipients from across the country will be honored together during a formal ceremony in Washington D.C. in March with FBI Director Robert S. Mueller.