NC ends Mecklenburg contract for children’s court defense. It hopes 8 attorneys can fill gap
A program that provided legal defense and advocacy services to more than 5,000 children in the Charlotte area since 2022 ended after losing $675,000 in state funding.
The Council for Children’s Rights shut down its Children’s Defense Team and Custody Advocacy Program after the state ended its contract with the group and other funding sources declined, according to interim Executive Director Karen Parker. The cuts mean thousands of children, including those caught up in high-conflict custody battles or facing the juvenile justice system, will no longer have access to what Parker called the “vital” support these programs provided.
The cuts are unrelated to ongoing federal cuts by the Trump administration which have resulted in financial issues for many nonprofits across North Carolina, Parker said. Instead, the council was not financially able to accept the funding model the Office of Indigent Defense Services offered.
The contract would have required CFCR to front the costs of services and be reimbursed and invest in data systems and staffing to meet timekeeping and data reporting requirements.
“We recognize that our situation is not unique and many nonprofit organizations are facing a challenging fundraising and funding environment including overall individual decreases in charitable giving,” Parker said in an email to The Charlotte Observer. “We are concerned about the negative impact of funding reductions to vulnerable children and families in our community.”
As CFCR works to keep its other services afloat, its leaders are asking the community for donations to fill the funding gap and prevent more cuts to programs that serve at-risk kids.
Amanda Bunch, communications specialist for the Office of Indigent Defense Services, said the office has entered into eight contracts with attorneys to handle juvenile defense in Mecklenburg County in lieu of working with CFCR. Bunch said the contracts should cover the attorney services the council once provided.
What did the programs do?
The Children’s Defense Team, which served more than 5,000 children ages 6 to 18 in the past three years, provided court-appointed attorneys to represent kids facing delinquency charges in Mecklenburg County. The team also helped children placed in treatment facilities for mental health issues.
Parker said the group’s approach, which included social workers and investigators, helped reduce the recidivism rate of these children to just 14%, far below the North Carolina average of 40%.
“This is a model of how children should be supported when their lives intersect with the juvenile justice system,” she said.
The Custody Advocacy Program consisted of attorneys who worked to represent children in high-conflict custody cases in Mecklenburg County. The cases often involved allegations of domestic violence, physical abuse and substance abuse, Parker said.
Teams of attorneys and advocates investigated witnesses, conducted home visits and reviewed documents to determine what actions were in a child’s best interest. The program has served 561 children since 2022.
The Children’s Defense Team ceased operation on April 30 following the end of state funding. The Custody Advocacy Program will end on June 30 as a result of funding lapses. The CFCR receives no other government funding, Parker said.
Future of children’s services
For now, CFCR has no way to fill the gap left by these programs, Parker said. The group is focusing on keeping other services funded, especially its Education Law Team, which provides legal help to students facing educational challenges like special education needs or discipline issues.
While the agency is in talks with foundations, faith groups, law firms and corporations, Parker said individual support is crucial.
“It is equally important to secure support from individual donors who want to support the children of Charlotte,” she said. “Help CFCR continue to stand up for every child’s right to be safe, healthy and well educated.”
Donations can be made on the Council for Children’s Rights website.
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
