At its core, Child Protective Services is about strengthening families and keeping children in their homes with their parents. Removing a child from his or her home is an option of last resort that is more expensive and less effective. However, more than $21 million of federal funding cuts have left county departments of social services understaffed and unable to adequately provide the in-home services that prevent abuse and neglect and strengthen families.NC Child supports increasing state funding for Child Protective Services by $12 million to help offset the loss of federal funds.

Resources and Helpful Links:

Prevent Child Abuse NC
NC Association of County Directors of Social Services

NC Child is committed to ensuring the safety of our communities while fostering positive youth development, so that the youth of today can become healthy, productive adults of tomorrow. North Carolina is one of only two states that charge all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults regardless of the severity of the crime. Research and data make it clear that our juvenile justice system is the right place to serve juveniles, reserving adult courts for the most serious offenders. The juvenile system provides age-appropriate adjudication, services, treatment, and punishment while giving youth time to grow up and mature. The time has come for North Carolina to join 48 other states and re-evaluate state law in light of scientific research and data, and to ensure 16- and 17-year-olds receive developmentally appropriate services and treatment in the juvenile system.