What We Do
Need for the Project
No child should grow up in a home where violence is present. Research has shown that children who are exposed to violence within the home have much higher incidences of aggressive and oppositional behaviors than their peers from nonviolent homes. Exposure to domestic violence during childhood correlates to problems throughout adulthood including higher levels of depression, increased tolerance for violence in adult relationships and poor conflict resolution skills. The need for intervention on behalf of children caught in domestic violence proceedings is clear. The CLC is there to provide a voice for these vulnerable children in court proceedings and to advocate for safe placement and counseling. Domestic violence tends to increase in times of economic instability and in this climate our services are needed more than ever.
The Children's Law Center of Central North Carolina, (CLC) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 2005. The CLC's mission is to provide advocacy for children in legal and administrative proceedings. The Children’s Law Center operates in three major areas:
- Advocates for Children in Domestic Violence (ACDV): Protecting the best interests of children in Chapter 50B, domestic violence cases, where a protective order has been filed and there is a question of child custody and safety.
- Child Advocacy Program (CAP) Protecting the best interests of children in high conflict Chapter 50 custody cases. The CLC tries to shield children from the psychological and emotional damage caused when children are caught in the middle of adult conflicts. We provide information to District Court judges which assists them as they render decisions concerning custody and visitation.
- Educational Issues: Protecting the best interests of children of indigent parents with issues involving the public school system.
Project Description
Advocacy for Children in Domestic Violence (ACDV) is a project of the Children's Law Center of Central North Carolina in which CLC represents the "best interests" of the child in domestic violence cases. The CLC is the only organization in the state of North Carolina which advocates on behalf of the child in such cases.
"Safe on Seven"
The CLC partners with Safe on Seven, an innovative program housed on the 7th floor of the Forsyth County Hall of Justice, to provide assistance to victims who have filed for a Domestic Violence Protective Order against an abuser. There, safe behind locked doors, victims can interact with a variety of helping agencies including Family Services, Legal Aid Society, the Department of Social Services, and the CLC.
Costs of Funding Advocates for Children in Domestic Violence
The cost of funding the Advocates for Children in Domestic Violence Program is $125,000 per year. We receive funding from the North Carolina Bar Association, the Governor's Crime Commission, and the Winston Salem foundation as well as from private donors.