Resource Center
Articles
State of our Children
Community Resources
First Wednesdays Webinars
Click on the topics below for pre-recorded workshops and important resources.
Latest Articles
Mission Moments: May 2023
We have exciting news to share! Council is proud to announce the launch of our newest advocacy project that will focus on improving...
In-Person CAP Volunteer Training is Back!
CUSTODY ADVOCACY TRAINING Presented by: The Custody Advocacy Program of Council for Children’s Rights Hosted by: Alston & Bird,...
Holiday Cards are here!
Celebrate the season by supporting Council for Children’s Rights. With your donation of $25 or more you send comfort and protection to our community’s most vulnerable children — AND send a beautiful greeting card to a friend or family member.
FAQ: “How can I best advocate for my child at school?”
Six top tips on how to best advocate for your child at school: put each communication in writing, keep your child’s education records in one place, schedule meetings with the school, bringing someone with you to important meetings, keep up to date with your child’s progress in school, and get to know your child’s teacher. Read more about each tip.
Black Lives Matter: By the Numbers
Council for Children’s Rights works to affirm rights for children daily through our individual services, research, and policy work....
The Effects of a Positive School Environment
by Camara, our Summer 2019 intern School Environment is not something we talk about often. However, it is critical to consider...
The 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. We are excited to be providing this critical information to the community as a resource to support our community’s efforts to increase equity and opportunity for all our children.
Children and families do not exist in a vacuum but, rather, are embedded in our communities and in our systems. Specifically, systems such as education, healthcare, and justice, intersect with social determinants of health, to create a set of conditions within which children and families live, work, play, learn, and interact. Those conditions affect their quality of life and ability to thrive.
Together, this is our community, our children, and our challenge.
Thank you in advance for your commitment to our common goal and we look forward to connecting with you. For more information, or to take action, please download the report and visit the linked resources in the Community Toolkit.
Community Resources
Charlotte is fortunate to have a wealth of organizations dedicated to serving the needs of children and families. Here you’ll find local agencies and resources that serve many and various needs of children and families in our community.
Custody Assistance
Child Find of America
800-716-3468
Child Support Enforcement Agency
704-432-9300
Children’s Law Center
336-831-1909
Law Help NC
www.lawhelpnc.org
Mecklenburg County Bar Lawyer Referral Service
704-375-0120
NC State Bar Lawyer Referral Service
800-662-7660
NCCU Juvenile and Family Law Clinics
919-530-7166
Self-Serve Center at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse
704-686-0210
The Child’s Advocate
919-821-5393
Domestic Violence Support
Children’s Law Center
336-831-1909
Family Service of the Piedmont
336-387-6161
Mecklenburg County’s Community Support Services Division
704-336-3210
NOVA
704-336-4344
Programa Confianza
704-336-3210
Safe Alliance
704-336-4126
Women’s Resource Center of Greensboro
336-275-6090
Education
Legal Assistance
Cuddy Law Firm
704-800-5252
serves low income
Disability Rights of NC
919-856-2195
free, but limited capacity
Gahagan Paradis Law Firm
919-942-1430
charges retainer for services
Law Offices of Keith Howard
704-612-4151
serves low income
Legal Aid of NC
1-866-219-5262
free, but must meet income eligibility requirements
Legal Services for Children of NC
919-914-0548
free/low cost
Vaughn & Associates
704-360-8798
charges retainer for services
Vogel Law Firm
704-552-3750
requires a retainer for services
Charter Schools in NC
www.ncpublicschools.org/charterschools/
Drop-Out Prevention
Communities in Schools
704-335-0601
services particular schools
College
ACLU
www.acluofnc.org
College Foundation of NC
866-866-2362
Johnson C. Smith University Scholars Program
704-378-1164
NC Reach
800-585-6112
The College Board
https://www.collegeboards.org/
Emergency Services
911
Carolinas Medical Center – Behavioral Health/Emergency
704-444-2400
Child Protective Services (CPS) with the Department of Social Services
980-314-7700
for general inquiries or social worker information 980-314-3577
to make referrals for abuse, neglect, or human trafficking
Children’s Law Center
336-831-1909
Domestic Violence Hotline
704-332-2513
Family Service of the Piedmont
336-387-6161
Mobile Crisis Unit
704-566-3410
Polaris (Human Trafficking)
1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733
Presbyterian Hospital Behavioral Health/Emergency
704-384-4255
Rape Crisis Hotline
704-375-9900
Safe Alliance
704-332-2513
Suicide Hotline
(800) 273-8255
Healthcare
Cardinal Access Line, for Medicare coverage
1-800-939-5911
Cardinal Concern Line
1-888-213-9687
Care Ring
704-375-0172
Center for Community Transitions
704-494-0001
Charlotte Regional Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
704-568-8558
Community Care Partners of Greater Mecklenburg
704-512-5555
Mecklenburg Behavioral Health Division
980-314-4022
Mecklenburg County Health Department
704-336-4700
Medicaid Office of Appeals
919-855-4260
Pregnancy Resource Center of Charlotte
704-372-5981
Teen Health Connection
704-381-8336
Wise Guys through Children’s Home Society
704-334-9955
Housing, Finance & Job Development
A Child’s Place
704-343-3790
American Red Cross
704-378-4620
Center for Community Transitions
704-494-0001
Charlotte Area Fund
704-372-3010
Charlotte Housing Authority
704-336-5183
Community Link
704-943-9490
Crisis Assistance Ministries
704-371-3001
Jackson Park Ministries
704-392-4981
Matthews HELP Center
704-847-8383
NC Housing Finance Agency
919-877-5700
Stony Point Christian Ministry
704-585-6521
The Relatives
704-377-0602
The Salvation Army
704-348-2560
Latin American
International House
704-333-8099
Latin American Coalition
704-531-3848
Programa Confianza
704-336-3210
Legal Assistance – General & Custody
GENERAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE
American Civil Liberties Union of NC
Freedom Center for Social Justice
980-729-8454
Law Help NC
www.lawhelpnc.org
Legal Aid of North Carolina
704-376-1600
Legal Services of Southern Piedmont
704-376-1600
Mecklenburg County Bar Lawyer Referral Service
704-375-0120
United Way 2-1-1
www.nc.freelegalanswers.org
CUSTODY
Children’s Law Center
336-831-1909 (Triad Area)
Mecklenburg County Bar Lawyer Referral Service
704-375-0120
NC State Bar Lawyer Referral Service
1-800-622-7407
NCCU Juvenile and Family Law Clinics
919-530-7166
Self-Serve Center at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse
704-686-0210
Mental Health
Family First
704-364-3989
Family Service of the Piedmont
336-387-6161
Harris Counseling and Coaching
980-533-1131
Jackson Park Ministries
704-392-4981
KinderMourn
704-376-2580
Mecklenburg Behavioral Health Division
980-314-4022
Mecklenburg County’s Community Support Services Division
704-336-3210
Monarch Youth Crisis Center
(844) 263-0050
Pat’s Place
704-335-2760
Q Foundation
704-930-6000
Teen Health Connection
704-381-8336
Thompson
704-536-0375
Special Education & Disability
Disability Information/Resources/Trainings
A Parent’s Guide to Special Education in NC
https://law.duke.edu/childedlaw/special-education-nc/
Autism After 18
http://autismafter18.org/
Autism Charlotte
704-910-4512
Autism Society of NC
1-800-442-2762
Beginnings For Parents of Children
Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
800-541-4327
Disability Rights and Resources
704-537-0550
all disabilities
Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte
704-536-2163
Dyslexia Advocacy Group of the Carolinas
704-659-1461
Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC)
1-800-962-6817
all disabilities
Office for Civil Rights, technical assistance
202-453-6020 (provides limited information)
Disability discrimination, file a complaint
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/
ocr/complaintintro.html
The Arc of Mecklenburg County
704-332-4535
focused on intellectual & developmental disabilities
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
info@ncld.org
Trusted Parents
980-229-7253
all disabilities
Support Groups
Charlotte Autism Foundation – Multicultural Autism Support Group
704-618-1489
Exceptional Parents of Exceptional Children (Christ Church Charlotte)
704-714-6957
Family Support Network of North Carolina
704-336-7173
HITCH-UP (Hearing Impaired Toddlers and Children Have Unlimited Potential)
www.hitchup.org
ParentVOICE (Mental Health America)
704-365-3454
strict eligibility criteria
Youth Development
ACE – Charlotte
704-280-9832
Angel’s Watch
980-259-1000
Behailu Academy
980-224-8854
Charlotte Works for Youth
980-237-2800
Eckerd Community-Based Services
704-817-7078
Grace Covenant Church
704-892-8005
Inspire the Fire
704-597-9577
Job Corps
1-800-733-5627
LIFT Academy
980-343-9417
LINKS Services
704-336-3000
On Ramp Resource Center (The Relatives)
704-501-8240
Right Moves for Youth
704-377-4425
Studio 345
704-333-2272
Teen Health Connection
704-381-8336
Time Out Youth
704-344-8335
Wise Guys through Children’s Home Society
704-334-9955