PREVENT FIRST NC
Making Child Sexual Abuse Prevention a Priority in North Carolina
A coordinated, statewide effort to protect children.
Prevent First NC is a statewide coalition uniting leaders across sectors to prevent child sexual abuse before it occurs. We LEAD to transform isolated efforts into a connected system that protects more children, more effectively, across the state.
Why Prevention Can't Wait
One in Ten
About one in ten children will experience child sexual abuse. An estimated 70 to 90 percent goes unreported. And less than 0.5% of child welfare funding is dedicated to prevention.
46th out of 51
North Carolina ranks 46th out of 51 on the Out of the Shadows Index Report, a national measure of whether states have the basic infrastructure needed for prevention. Our state currently lacks a statewide prevention plan, consistent youth education requirements, shared prevalence data, and a clear picture of prevention investment.
Siloed and Underfunded
Prevention efforts across the state are often siloed and underfunded. Organizations compete for limited resources instead of building toward shared goals. Without shared data, it is extremely difficult to advocate for sustained funding, policy change, or prevention-focused legislation, even when the need is obvious.
Meetings & Registration
Meets every other month on the 3rd Thursday.
10:00–11:30 AM (virtual)
Co-Leads
Prevent First NC is the first statewide coalition dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse that is co-led by a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America and a nationally accredited state chapter of the National Children’s Alliance.
Together, Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina (PCANC) and Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina (CACNC) bring prevention expertise, frontline system experience, and long-standing relationships across the state.
