From the Desk of the Executive Director
Dear Friends,
I am thrilled to share our 2024 Impact Report and extend heartfelt gratitude to Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP for their steadfast support. One of the greatest gifts we can give a child is to show up—holding space for them to be seen and showing through our actions that they matter. By reading this report, you are showing up for our children and reaffirming their place in this community.
At Council for Children's Rights, our work often begins with a legal issue, but that’s just the starting point. We must often stabilize other areas of a child’s life—keeping them in school, ensuring safe housing, or addressing mental health needs—before tackling the legal matter. Protecting children’s rights in this manner removes barriers to essential and legally protected services to help our children chart new paths toward brighter futures.
For 45 years, we’ve contributed to creating opportunities for children and families to achieve upward mobility. Our work is complex, but at its core, it’s simple: we show up for our children, give them a voice, and ensure they have a chance to thrive.
Thank you for standing with us and making this work possible. Together, we can create a more just and equitable future for all children.
CHILDREN AT THE CENTER OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY
Our children are at the center of everything we do, and their well-being shapes the future of our community. The legal, education, and healthcare systems are designed to protect and uplift our children, but too often they fall short, especially in times of crisis. At Council for Children’s Rights, we work to ensure that every child is provided access to quality education, personalized healthcare, and fair treatment within the legal system. By protecting children’s rights and removing systemic barriers, we create pathways for our children to achieve upward mobility,* helping them build stable futures and reach their full potential.
*For more information on how our work impacts a child’s upward mobility, request a “Justice Talks” session with a CFCR professional at info@cfcrights.org
Custody Advocacy Program
Council’s Custody Advocacy Program (CAP) represents children caught in the middle of high-conflict custody cases, always prioritizing their well-being. Our trauma-informed attorneys work tirelessly to reduce the disruptions caused by family instability, helping our children stay safe and able to focus on school, friends, and activities that bring them joy. In 2024, CAP saw an increase in complex cases, often involving untreated parental mental health challenges. Since the pandemic, we have also seen a troubling rise in domestic violence and sexual abuse allegations. Our dedicated team works with trained volunteer advocates and attorneys to address each child’s unique needs. By providing necessary support and ensuring stable environments, Council helps our children build social capital through meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging within their community.
- 77% of CAP clients experienced mental health issues at home
- 38% of CAP clients experienced domestic violence
Education Law Program
Council’s Education Law Program (ELP) is committed to ensuring that every child in our community has access to a quality education. As the need for educational advocacy grows for court-involved youth and children with disabilities, ELP has expanded its services beyond legal representation to also provide influential guidance on policy reform throughout North Carolina. In 2024, we trained over 1,000 advocates, including school staff, parents, and foster care agencies. Our efforts have helped more students access the supports and services they have a right to while remaining in integrated classrooms, creating stability in their educational journey. By receiving an education tailored to their needs, our students are empowered to thrive and reach their full potential, paving the way for a brighter future.
- 67% of students represented have an identified disability
- 47% of students represented are court-involved
Marcus’s Story
Ten-year-old Marcus’s journey with Council began when his family could no longer provide the care he needed. After experiencing emotional turmoil and behavioral challenges, Marcus found himself in an unstable home environment and struggled to stay connected in school. With the support of our CAP team, he was connected to a compassionate mentor who took him in. After recognizing his lingering academic struggles, our ELP team stepped in to ensure Marcus was able to access an education fit for his needs. With Council’s support, Marcus found stability both in the classroom and at home.
Children’s Defense Team
Delinquency
Delinquency advocates fight for the rights and futures of children involved in the legal system. We strive to ensure that our children are treated fairly and have full access to the rehabilitative services required under the law. We also fight to keep them engaged in school and activities, like sports, where they can maintain a sense of belonging. Our advocates limit the consequences of legal system involvement, helping to prevent the stigma that can arise from charges while addressing points of instability in the lives of our children. Our team holds the system accountable, ensuring that law enforcement and the state follow proper procedures, which leads to many dismissals and reductions of charges. Beyond the courtroom, we provide ongoing support to our children post-disposition, promoting rehabilitation and long-term success so that every child has a chance to thrive after their involvement with the legal system.
- 77% of the children we represent are Black—an extreme disproportionality
- 90% of the children we represent have not faced additional charges within 24 months
Mental Health
Council’s Mental Health advocates stand up for children placed in locked mental health facilities across Mecklenburg County, working to prevent the long-term consequences of involuntary commitment, which can create barriers to future opportunities like employment or military service. Using a child-centered and collaborative approach, we support our children during hospitalization, helping to stabilize their lives and prevent the criminalization of their behaviors linked to mental health challenges. Our team ensures that no child remains in a facility longer than necessary and works to connect them with the educational and community resources they need for successful reintegration. We recognize the trauma hospitalization can cause, and we are committed to helping our children ensure that their mental health struggles do not define their potential. With the right support, these children can move beyond their struggles and build brighter futures.
- 98% of our cases avoided the consequences of involuntary confinement
- Children in foster care are 2x more likely to be readmitted to a locked mental health facility
Systemic Litigation
In partnership with Nelson Mullins, CFCR has taken action to protect the constitutional rights of children in North Carolina. We filed a class action lawsuit to challenge the inhumane use of solitary confinement on children in detention centers, which isolates them for up to 23 hours a day with little to no education or human contact. This cruel practice not only violates children’s rights, but also inflicts lasting harm on their mental and emotional well-being. Through this lawsuit, we are working to ensure that every child in detention is treated with dignity, provided with the education they deserve, and given the chance to thrive, even in the face of difficult circumstances.
Community Collaboration
Council for Children’s Rights is deeply committed to partnering with a wide range of community organizations to drive meaningful and lasting change at local, state, and national levels. Guided by a shared vision of a more equitable and just society, CFCR amplifies the voices of the children we serve by actively participating in over 25 child-centered community collaboratives and leads the following:
Improving Outcomes for Children in Foster Care
With the support of The Merancas Foundation, CFCR has made tremendous strides this past year in shaping public policy to better the lives of children in foster care. From helping guide local court procedures to improving how public agencies implement federal laws, we are working to ensure that every child in foster care receives the support they need to stay in a stable home and get the quality education they deserve.
Training Education Advocates with BCDI
Our Education Law Program partnered with Black Child Development Institute (BCDI) of the Carolinas to present “Navigating the System: Parental Rights Unveiled,” a series of educational workshops designed to empower and inform parents and guardians. These monthly sessions address a range of essential topics, equipping families with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for their children in today’s complex educational and legal systems.
Special Thanks to Our Board Members
Thank you to our current Board of Directors, whose support enables us to move our mission forward and make an incredible impact on our community.
Outstanding Individual Pro Bono Award
Council for Children’s Rights was honored to present Robert Lindholm with this year’s Outstanding Individual Attorney Award. Alongside Rob and the team at Nelson Mullins, we filed a lawsuit to address the unconstitutional practice of holding children in solitary confinement, as well as denying their constitutional right to an education.
As a society, we have all these safety nets in place. The hope is that when a child falls through one, they’ll be caught by another. . . . What that logic misses is that children are still falling. When a child reaches Council, they have already experienced the worst of the worst . . . and this is, often, their last chance to be caught.
—Dr. Robert Pinka, Director, Impact & Policy