News Summary
The Council for Children’s Rights (CFCR) in Charlotte is shutting down its Children’s Defense Team and Custody Advocacy Program due to a loss of $675,000 in state funding. The closures, set for April 30 and June 30, will leave vulnerable children without essential legal support. CFCR provided defense and advocacy to over 5,000 children since 2022, with concerns about the impact of these service cuts on children involved in custody battles and the juvenile justice system. The organization appeals for community donations to help sustain its operations.
Charlotte – The Council for Children’s Rights (CFCR) is set to shut down its vital Children’s Defense Team and end its Custody Advocacy Program after losing $675,000 in state funding. The closures, which are scheduled for April 30 and June 30, respectively, come as a direct result of the state terminating its contract with CFCR, leaving many vulnerable children in the Charlotte area without essential legal support.
Since its inception in 2022, CFCR has provided critical legal defense and advocacy services to over 5,000 children, making a significant impact on those involved in high-conflict custody battles or facing challenges within the juvenile justice system. The termination of these programs means that many children will no longer have access to court-appointed attorneys or specialized representation in custody cases that often involve allegations of domestic violence, abuse, or substance issues.
Interim Executive Director Karen Parker characterized the support provided by these programs as “vital,” underlining the real-world consequences of losing such services. The Children’s Defense Team had been particularly successful, offering legal representation for juveniles facing delinquency charges and providing mental health treatment in Mecklenburg County. The team’s efforts have yielded a recidivism rate of only 14%, far below the North Carolina state average of 40%.
The impending program closures were exacerbated by the organization’s inability to adapt to a new funding model proposed by the Office of Indigent Defense Services. This new model required CFCR to cover upfront costs for their legal services and invest in additional data systems and staffing. Despite the challenges, CFCR continued to hope for viable funding to sustain its operations.
CFCR is facing a broader challenge that many nonprofit organizations in North Carolina are currently experiencing, which includes a decline in charitable contributions and unstable funding sources. These financial strains have made it increasingly difficult for CFCR to sustain its programs with only government funding from state contracts, as it does not receive any other government support.
In the wake of the impending program shutdowns, CFCR leaders are appealing to the local community for donations to bridge the funding gap and prevent further program cuts. The organization is focusing on maintaining its remaining services, particularly its Education Law Team, which assists students to navigate educational challenges related to special needs and disciplinary actions. CFCR hopes that community support will help them continue to advocate for the rights of children who are most in need.
Following the shutdown, the Office of Indigent Defense Services has contracted eight attorneys to take over juvenile defense services that CFCR previously provided. However, there are concerns that this transition may not fully replace the tailored support that CFCR’s specialized programs offered.
The closure of the Children’s Defense Team and the Custody Advocacy Program will inevitably leave a significant gap in legal support for many children in Charlotte. CFCR has expressed its commitment to advocating for vulnerable children, even amidst these challenges, and urges community involvement to sustain its crucial operations.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Major Funding Cuts Loom for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Additional Resources
- Charlotte Observer
- Wikipedia: Child Advocacy
- WCNC
- Google Search: Council for Children’s Rights
- The Ringer
- Google Scholar: Juvenile Justice Advocacy
- People
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Juvenile Justice
