NURTURING POSITIVE CHILDHOODS
Free Online Trainings
Take our self-guided trainings to learn how to recognize and respond to suspicions of child maltreatment and…
Prevention Action Network
Join an affiliation of agencies and individuals invested in nurturing positive childhoods.
NC Family Resource Center Network
Join North Carolina’s statewide chapter of the National Family Support Network.
Connections Matter NC
Request a Connections Matter presentation for your workplace, agency, faith community or civic group.
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Every child is filled with tremendous promise, and it’s our shared obligation to foster their potential. Help nurture positive childhoods in North Carolina today.
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About Us
Every child is filled with tremendous promise, and we all have a shared responsibility to help children reach their untapped potential. In collaboration with partners and supporters like you, we raise awareness of strategies that nurture positive childhoods; advocate for policies that put children and families first; and provide training, technical assistance and support to professionals delivering programs and implementing strategies proven to strengthen families. Together, we’re building a stronger foundation for North Carolina’s future.
Together, We’re Nurturing Positive Childhoods
Advocating for Policies that put families first
Raising awareness of what works to nurture positive childhoods
Supporting professionals in delivering programs that support families
Our Values
Equity
We embrace the strength and excellence that comes from having a diverse body of individuals and an engaged and thoughtful conversation as being critical to accomplishing our vision of children growing up in safe, stable, and nurturing families and communities.
Community-Wide Responsibility
We recognize that the system around families, including other people, has a responsibility for supporting families and helping create solutions. Child maltreatment prevention through proactive policies and community supports are crucial to changing the system so that parents can provide nurturing and safe environments for their children.
Partnerships
Nurturing positive childhoods happens in partnership. We know no single agency is responsible for prevention and that everyone has a role to play. We aim to partner with families, communities, funders, and our sister agencies that support and strengthen families.
Data-Driven
We use data to select and implement programs, recommend policies that support families, and to monitor our progress towards expected outcomes.
Public Awareness Tools
Download toolkits and resources to guide you in raising awareness for effective child maltreatment prevention strategies throughout the year.
Policy Priorities
We believe that the greatest impact can be made by prioritizing “upstream” prevention in policy and practice. When we invest upstream in public policies that build strong families and safe communities, we are securing the safe, stable, nurturing environments all children deserve.
Community Spotlights Blog
E4C Summit Highlights Evidence-Based Economic Supports That Protect Children and Families
Convened by the NCIOM’s Essentials for Childhood project in August, the summit, Economic Supports: A Path to Reduce Childhood Adversity, provided a deep look at the evidence and an opportunity to learn from other southern states’ investments in concrete supports. A panel of North Carolina leaders in child and family well-being also shared their experiences and recommendations.
Nurturing Positive Childhoods through Economic Support to Families
By Melissa Clepper-Faith, PCANC Policy Director At a recent Summit, hosted by the NC Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) and Prevent Child Abuse NC (PCANC), attendees from across North Carolina discussed how modest economic support could help North Carolina families and...
Child Well-Being in American Indian and Tribal Communities
May 23, 2023 By Sharon Hirsch, PCANC President & CEO In late February, the NC Commission on Indian Affairs held their 7th Annual Indian Child Welfare Gathering. Prevent Child Abuse NC (PCANC) President & CEO Sharon Hirsch participated on a panel discussion...
News Room
Prevent Child Abuse NC Announces New Board Officers
September 11, 2023 Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina (PCANC) announces the election of its fiscal year 2023-2024 executive officers: Dee McDougal, board chair; Stephen Dauchert, board vice-chair; Sharon Baxter, secretary; and William Goebel, treasurer. The executive...
PREVENT CHILD ABUSE NORTH CAROLINA ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina (PCANC) announced the appointments of Allison Jordan, Emmanuel Paul, German Barriga, John Eller and Rebecca Newton to its 2023/2024 statewide board of directors. They join a team of 16 volunteer leaders dedicated to nurturing positive childhoods for all of North Carolina’s children.
Prevent Child Abuse NC Welcomes Melissa Clepper-Faith as Policy Director
August 7, 2023 Prevent Child Abuse NC (PCANC) is proud to welcome Melissa Clepper-Faith as Policy Director. Clepper-Faith has an extensive background in child and family well-being as a pediatrician and continues to serve as a leader in the pediatric community. She...