A New Year, A Stronger Voice for Children

Reflecting on the Custody Advocacy Program and Its Impact on Our Community

As we step into a new year, it’s a natural moment to reflect - on where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and the work that still lies ahead. For Children’s Law Center of Central North Carolina, that reflection always brings us back to the children we serve and the role our Custody Advocacy Program (CAP) plays in helping them find safety, stability, and a path forward.

Every year, CAP serves children caught in the middle of domestic violence protective order cases and high-conflict custody disputes. These are moments of profound uncertainty for a child, when decisions made in a courtroom can shape their sense of security, and their emotional well-being for years to come. CAP exists to ensure that, in those moments, the child’s voice is not lost.

Through CAP, trained child advocates step in to represent a child’s best interests. Advocates spend time getting to know the child, listening to their experiences, and understanding the realities of their family situation. They work closely with caregivers, courts, and community partners to provide judges with the information needed to make informed, child-centered decisions. This advocacy helps the court move beyond competing adult narratives and focus on what truly supports the child’s safety and stability.

The impact of CAP extends well beyond individual cases. When children are placed in safer, more stable custody arrangements, the ripple effects are felt throughout the community. Families experience reduced conflict, courts benefit from clearer information, and children are better positioned to heal, learn, and grow. Over time, early and thoughtful intervention helps reduce repeated court involvement and prevents crises from escalating; strengthening not just families, but the systems that serve them and the community as a whole.

As we look ahead to the new year, demand for CAP continues to grow. More families are navigating complex custody situations, and more children need an advocate focused solely on their best interests. Our commitment remains the same: to show up for children at their most vulnerable moments and to ensure that every child has a voice in decisions that affect their future.

We enter this year grateful for our partners, our supporters, and the community that believes children deserve protection, dignity, and hope. Together, we can continue building a future where children are safer, families are stronger, and advocacy leads to lasting change.

Here’s to a new year of standing with children and letting their voices be heard.