In 1998, a team gathered to clearly define expectations for the care of children and families in Charlotte. The goal was to establish a bar against which every local policy and budgetary decision impacting children's welfare could be measured. The initiative involved a cross-section of public and private not-for-profits, government agencies, foundations and other concerned citizens.

The resulting Core Values have since been endorsed and utilized by the United Way of Central Carolinas, Mecklenburg County Board of Education, Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), Charlotte City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and several sources of funding for children's programs. They now form the basis of the Children's Alliance structure.

Currently, active committees exist in the following areas: