Governor Stein Proclaims Children's Advocacy Center Day

Children’s Advocacy Center Day

2026

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, in 2025, children’s advocacy centers (CACs) across North Carolina provided life-changing support to children and caregivers through forensic interviews, child medical evaluations, victim advocacy services, and evidence-based mental health treatments, all offered free of charge; and 

Whereas, children’s advocacy centers in North Carolina continue to serve some of our most vulnerable population, with 53 percent of the children served in 2025 being 10 years old or younger, including 22 percent aged 0-5 years and 31 percent aged 6-10 years, while 45 percent were aged 11-17 years; and 

Whereas, in 2025, CACs handled a total of 6,911 cases of child sexual abuse, 3,759 cases of physical abuse, and 1,542 cases of neglect, in addition to addressing cases involving child trafficking, drug endangerment, and children who witnessed violence; and 

Whereas, multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) facilitated by CACs brought together professionals from law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, and medical and mental health fields, achieving a 97.41 percent success rate in improving collaboration and efficiency in child abuse investigations; and 

Whereas, caregivers who accessed CAC services reported a 98.34 percent satisfaction rate, stating that the centers played critical roles in their children’s healing and recovery processes; and 

Whereas, CACs uphold the highest standards of care and collaboration, ensuring that children and their non-offending caregivers receive the best possible response to abuse and neglect while also leading the way in prevention, education, and community awareness regarding child abuse;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 28, 2026, as “Children’s Advocacy Center Day” in North Carolina and commend its observance to all residents.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-sixth day of March in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-sixth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.