Our Story
Children’s Advocacy Center of Charlotte, formerly known as Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center, is a nonprofit organization that coordinates the investigation, prosecution and treatment of the most severe cases of child abuse in Mecklenburg County.
Safety, Strength, Support
It Takes All of Us, Working Together
As the only child advocacy center in Charlotte, with the mission to protect and heal children, unite key partners, and engage the community to end child abuse, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Charlotte serves children from birth through age 17. All services are provided in a nurturing, friendly and safe environment at no cost to a child’s family.
Safety, Strength, Support
Circle of Friends
In June 2019, CAC of Charlotte created the Circle of Friends giving society to recognize individuals, corporate champions, and foundations who contributed a minimum of $1,000 to the center over the course of one fiscal year. In the Society’s inaugural year, we were pleased to announce that we enrolled 140+ members into Circle of Friends!
As we continue to build on that foundation, we are grateful for stakeholders who provide an annual gift which allows us to fund our core programs and meet the increasing need for our services. To learn more about how you can become a member of Circle of Friends and to discuss the benefits of the society, contact Kaylan Mariano, Director of Development.
The Wonderful Person Behind This Place
Patricia “Pat” Wolfe
Patricia “Pat” Wolfe was a tremendous child advocate who served the Charlotte community with compassion and conviction. A former juvenile court counselor, social worker, and case advocate, Pat was known for her deep commitment to children in need. She often used her own finances to help “her kids” access food, clothing, daycare, and other essentials. Over more than 30 years working with youth across Mecklenburg County, she earned the lasting gratitude of countless families, many of whom continued to visit or call her long after they had grown.
Before her sudden passing, Pat was actively involved in planning a new advocacy center in Charlotte designed to support children impacted by sexual abuse. That vision became reality with the founding of Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center, created in her honor to ensure children could access coordinated services in a safe, nurturing environment. The center was established so that children would no longer have to endure repeated questioning about traumatic experiences and could instead receive medical care, forensic interviews, and advocacy support in one child-friendly location at no cost to their families.
Since opening in 2005 with just one staff member, the organization, now known as Children’s Advocacy Center of Charlotte, has grown into a team of 20 professionals with diverse expertise. The organization continues to build on the foundation Pat helped create, expanding its reach and deepening its impact for children and families across the region.
Today, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Charlotte carries forward Pat’s legacy, ensuring that every child who walks through its doors is met with safety, dignity, and compassionate care.
Our History
20 Years of CAC of Charlotte
Our Community Partners
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Charlotte is built on the belief that no one agency or professional can solve the problem of child abuse alone. Child Advocacy Centers are community based, and CAC of Charlotte would not be possible without the commitment of many community partners.
