Action for Children
is and is the
N.C. Annie E. Casey
KIDS COUNT partner
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New! Emerging Issues Report - The 529 College Savings Plan: Bringing Higher Education into Focus for N.C. Children - May 2010
Action for Children's newest Emerging Issues report finds that higher education is increasingly
unaffordable for North Carolina families, even
after financial aid is factored in. Though advanced credentials are critical
for economic advancement, fewer than one in five adult North
Carolinians holds a bachelor's degree. Mounting evidence shows
that saving during childhood can not only make college more affordable, but
also raise children's expectations of attending college.
The 2010 legislative session convened May 12, and the budget committees are already hard at work.Visit our Policy Action page for analysis of the Governor's budget and updates on the budget process.
N.C. Child Advocate conference calls on budget and bills, every Friday at 11 a.m.
When children go to prison,
no one wins. Research shows that prosecuting children in the adult criminal
justice system wastes young lives, fosters crime, does not increase public
safety, and costs society more in the long run.
Youth charged with a crime
should start in the juvenile justice system, with judges retaining their
current authority to send minors to the adult system for any felony. Of the more than 30,000 minors in the the adult system, more than 85% of them have committed minor crimes.
Evidence shows that the
juvenile system – with programs tailored to how children think and learn – is
more effective at rehabilitating youth. Fewer then go on to commit another
crime, which means lower costs to society and more children growing up to
become educated, employed citizens.
North Carolina
is one of only two states in the nation that still prosecute all 16- and 17-year-olds
as adults. Incarcerated children in North Carolina have no right to
rehabilitative programming, mentoring, counseling, or even an education.
Tell North Carolina’s leaders that it’s time to join the rest of
the country by reading and signing on to the Raise the Age Petition. Tell them to throw out this nearly 100-year-old law and put 16-
and 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system, where they can be treated,
rehabilitated, educated, counseled, and prepared for a successful life.Click here to read a recent CNN article on raising the age in Connecticut and North Carolina.
“The North Carolina Children’s Index is an indispensable public policy tool for addressing the wellbeing of our children. We know it will help policymakers, community leaders and other child advocates tackle issues like access to health insurance and quality child care; suspension and dropout rates; foster care placements; and juvenile crime. Progress in those areas will naturally lead to more of our children growing up to become stable and highly productive adults in the business world or whatever endeavor they choose. We thank Action for Children North Carolina for another very valuable report, one that will certainly help make a difference in the quality of life for our state.”
–Kelly King, President and CEO, BB&T, Winston-Salem, NC
Youth charged with a crime
should start in the juvenile justice system, with judges retaining their
current authority to send minors to the adult system for any felony. 
