Our Mission

Council for Children’s Rights envisions a community committed to standing up, speaking out, and acting to ensure every child’s right to be safe, healthy, and well-educated.

Our Work

Together we defend and champion the rights of children to be supported and treated with fairness, compassion, and respect, regardless of personal obstacles.

PRACTICE AREAS

Custody

The Council is court-appointed to represent the best interests of children caught in the middle of high conflict custody cases.

Defense

The Council is the court-appointed public defender to represent all children in juvenile delinquency court who have been accused of a crime.

Mental Health

The Council provides legal representation for every child who faces civil commitment to a mental health hospital or residential treatment facility in Mecklenburg County.

Special Education

The Council provides special education advocacy to children in foster care to ensure they receive their right to a free appropriate public education.

Research & Policy

The Council conducts important research and analysis that informs policies, improves systems, and solves complex problems facing children.

2020 Juvenile Justice Report released

Youth of color are overrepresented at various points of contact in the juvenile justice system. How can we reduce these disparities? Strategies include using data to inform policy and practice, and changing our culture to focus less on punitive responses and more on what’s best for our youth and community. Learn more about Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) and reduction strategies in the 2020 Juvenile Justice Report–RED supplement.

2020 Juvenile Justice Report, part 1

2020 Voting Reference

From remote learning to shifting in-person and from cohort schedules to updated timelines, Council for Children’s Rights has created one place for information about school reopening and options for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ families.

What You Need to Know About CMS’ Instruction Plan [UPDATED]

State of Our Children Report

This annual report — formerly known as State of Mecklenburg’s Children — has been produced by the Council for more than 30 years and has become a go-to resource for data on children and families in our community.

Learn More