About the Council
Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Legal Advocacy Agency for Children




Council for Children’s Rights is Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s leading advocate for children, providing both direct assistance to children in need today and working for the well-being of all children in the future. Our mission is to lead the community to stand up for every child’s right to be safe, healthy, and well-educated.
We serve some of the most at-risk children in Mecklenburg County. Our advocacy work intersects with the lives of children in the areas of education, abuse and neglect, mental health, custody, domestic violence, and juvenile defense. We actively work toward system reforms and public policies that address the needs and future of all children — not just the children we serve.
Council for Children’s Rights was formed in 2006 through the merger of the Council for Children (founded in 1979) and the Children’s Law Center (founded in 1987). Both groups worked tirelessly to advocate for children in crisis, and in merging they created the largest child advocacy agency in the state.
Our Practice Areas
PRACTICE
AREA
Family Law
The Council is court-appointed to represent the best interests of children caught in the middle of high conflict custody cases.
PRACTICE
AREA
Juvenile Defense
The Council is the court-appointed public defender to represent all children in juvenile delinquency court who have been accused of a crime.
PRACTICE
AREA
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.
PRACTICE
AREA
Education
The Council provides expert legal assistance to students who are in the juvenile defense or child welfare systems facing educational challenges, to parents and guardians of students who have special education, Section 504, or discipline-related issues, and to the community at-large through free training sessions.
PRACTICE
AREA
Research & Policy
The Council conducts important research, analysis, and policy advocacy efforts to reform policies, improve systems, and solve complex problems facing children.
“Our children are my heroes, and I am in awe of their courage and resilience.”
Our Work
We defend and champion the rights of children to be supported and treated with fairness, compassion, and respect, regardless of personal obstacles. We work to achieve our mission by:
…providing legal services and advocacy for individual children,
…encouraging our community to use research that informs policies, improves systems, and solves complex problems facing children,
…educating professionals, parents, and caregivers to become more effective advocates,
…and collaborating with community partners by providing expertise, leadership, and support to create solutions that achieve better outcomes for our children.
CFCR BY THE NUMBERS
FY2022Volunteers
supporters
children served
individual cases
A Letter from Our Board Chair

I am so honored to serve as the President of the Board of Directors of the Council for Children’s Rights and to work with my esteemed board members. In my over 15 years of volunteering for this organization with the Custody Advocacy Program, I have seen first-hand the positive impact this work has on the lives and futures of children. In the last 5 years of also serving in a Board role, especially during the pandemic, I witnessed time and time again the critical necessity our services and interventions provide to our community’s children. Council is uniquely positioned to advocate for our children in times when significant world events, community decisions, and multiple systemic responses negatively impact the lives of children. We make meaningful and positive change a reality.
For me, it is important that we embrace children as “our” children and that “we” share in the responsibility to improve their lives and restore stability and well-being. I am grateful to recognize that “we” includes our staff, our Board, our numerous volunteers, our dedicated donors, and this incredible community. We all stand strong and committed together for the children that depend on us.
I am proud to continue to support this work. Our services are rooted in addressing both the individualized need of children and seeking reform of systems and policies that impact their journey through life. I stand firmly in the belief that all children deserve to be safe, healthy and educated, and am committed this year to increase their equitable opportunity in this community.
I look forward to this year and building the connections we have in this community. Charlotte’s children are our children and Charlotte’s future. Many thanks for your ongoing support of this work and for caring for our children!

Deb Dilman, Board Chair
CFCR Board Chair 2023-2024

OFFICERS
Deb Dilman, President
Southpark Family Law
Keith Atkinson, President-Elect
Nuveen, LLC (a TIAA company)
Deb Hanna, Past President
Community Leader
Brian Bonaviri, Treasurer Co-Chair
Meru
Emily Costigan, Treasurer Co-Chair
Bank of America
Wendi Fleener, Governance Chair
Duke Energy
Anika Kim, Advancement Chair
Bank of America
Brian Bernhardt
Fox Rothschild LLP
Amanda Christie
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Kim Cochran Novant Health
Virginia Covill
Leading on Opportunity
Landon Eustache PricewaterhouseCoopers
Lara Greenberg
Nixon Peabody LLP
Katherine Hickman
Helen Adams Realty
Najla Long
Bradley LLP
Sarah Negus
Moore & Van Allen
Windy Oliver
Wells Fargo
T. Richmond McPherson, III McGuireWoods LLP
Beth Richek
Wells Fargo
Cory Rogers
Ernst & Young
Lindsey Smith
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Jennifer Terry
Atrium Health
ADMINISTRATION
Heather Johnson, MSW, JD
Executive Director
Christopher Brown
Director of Administration
ADVANCEMENT
Amy Vavra, JD
Director of Advancement
Alaina Smith
Associate Director of Institutional Giving
Alexandra Russell
Donor Relations Coordinator
RESEARCH AND POLICY
Heather Johnson, MSW, JD
Executive Director
Robert Pinka
Director, Impact and Policy
CHILDREN’S DEFENSE TEAM (CDT)
Michelle Duprey, JD
Director, Children’s Defense Team
Anthony Masters, JD
Staff Attorney
Iman McAllister, JD
Staff Attorney
Breanne Mercer, JD
Staff Attorney
Billy Vargas, JD
Staff Attorney
Brian Wick, JD
Staff Attorney
Sarah Shearer
Program Assistant
CUSTODY ADVOCACY PROGRAM (CAP)
Patti Tutone, JD
Director, Custody Advocacy Program
Linda Hurlbert, JD
Staff Attorney
Sheila Passenant, JD
Staff Attorney
Sarah Vimont, JD
Staff Attorney
Heather McDonough
Legal Support and Database Manager
Emma Wilbur
Program Assistant
EDUCATION LAW PROGRAM (ELP)
Caitlin Whalan Jones, JD
Director, Education Law Program
Stephanie Klitsch, JD
Assistant Director, Education Law Program
Daniel Brown, JD
Staff Attorney
Susannah Barr, JD
Staff Attorney
Emily Mikkelsen
Policy Advocate