Council For Childrens Rights Inc

COUNCIL FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS PROTECTS AND ADVANCES THE LEGAL RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN THROUGH INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION,COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND BY ADDRESSING COMMUNITY WIDE ISSUES THROUGH SYSTEMS ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND POLICY WORK.

CHILDREN'S DEFENSE ADVOCACY- THE COUNCIL SERVES AS THE SPECIALIZED JUVENILE PUBLIC DEFENDER IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY. THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING FOR ROUGHLY 76% OF THE COST OF THE PROGRAM, THE COUNCIL'S ATTORNEYS REPRESENT ALL CHILDREN CHARGED WITH CRIMES IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY COURT. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER ROLE IN JUVENILE COURT, THE COUNCIL REPRESENTS EVERY CHILD THAT IS FACING CONFINEMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTION. AS EXPRESS INTEREST ATTORNEYS, THE COUNCIL PROVIDES THE VOICE OF THE CHILD AND FIGHTS TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILD'S CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED. THE COUNCIL IS THE ONLY SPECIALIZED JUVENILE PUBLIC DEFENDER IN NORTH CAROLINA

CUSTODY ADVOCACY- THE COUNCIL SERVES AS THE COURT APPOINTED BEST INTEREST ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGH CONFLICT CUSTODY CASES. USING A COMBINATION OF STAFF ATTORNEYS, VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS AND VOLUNTEER CHILD ADVOCATES, THE COUNCIL ENSURES THAT THE CHILD'S VOICE IS HEARD AND THAT THE JUDGE HAS ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION THAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD. THE COUNCIL RECEIVE CASES THROUGH COURT APPOINTMENT FORM A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE; THE PROGRAM OPERATES ONLY THROUGH A COURT-ORDERED FEE BASED ON THE INCOME OF THE PARTIES. THE COUNCIL REPRESENTS ONLY THE CHILD- NOT THE COURT OR THE PARENTS

EDUCATION ADVOCACY- THE COUNCIL 'S ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES SERE AS BEST INTEREST ADVOCATES CHILDREN WHO ARE IN NEED OF SERVICES. THESE ADVOCATES WORK IN THE COMPLEX AREA OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, CHILD WELFARE(ABUSE, NEGLECT AND DEPENDENCY), PUBLIC BENEFITS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE COUNCIL RECEIVES ALMOST ALL OF THESES CASES BY COURT ORDER THROUGH THE DISTRICT COURT, AND OCCASIONALLY THROUGH COMMUNITY REFERRALS FROM CONCERNED PARENTS, GUARDIANS, RELATIVES OR OTHERS WHO CONTACT THE COUNCIL'S OFFICE. THE COUNCIL HELPS CLIENTS NAVIGATE COMPELS SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEMS SO THEY CAN RECEIVE APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. WHEN ADVOCACY OR OTHER INTERVENTION EFFORTS ARE UNSUCCESSFUL,THE COUNCIL CAN USE IMPACT LITIGATION ON BEHALF OF AN INDIVIDUAL CHILD TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILD'S LEGAL RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED. THE COUNCIL SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE COMPLEX NEEDS IN MULTIPLES SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEMS, WHO ARE AT RISK OF LANGUISHING AND FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.