Child Advocacy

Child Advocates work with children and families to help them overcome difficult life challenges. Child Advocates at TEDI BEAR CAC help children and their families feel as comfortable as possible by providing support to relieve anxiety and build trust.

Our Child Advocates make a child’s experience less stressful and more empowering. Children and families are able to ask questions and express concerns about their visits. The forensic interview and medical exam are explained in terms that children can understand, and a tour is provided for children to help ease anxiety about the appointment.

Child Advocates provide therapeutic activities, distraction, and coping techniques as needed to support children throughout the appointment. Child Advocate interventions play a crucial role in minimizing trauma for child victims and their families.

Student Practicums and Internships

Practicum and Internship opportunities are available for ECU students who are majoring in areas of Human Development and Family Science. Only students currently enrolled at ECU are eligible for a practicum or internship at TEDI BEAR CAC, and students are only allowed one clinical rotation at TEDI BEAR CAC. For Child Life majors, TEDI BEAR provides a practicum experience, but does not provide a child life internship. Child Life students may choose an alternative Child and Family Internship; however, this option does not provide supervision under a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and does not allow students to sit for the Child Life Certification exam.

For more information, you may contact Katie Wood at TEDI BEAR CAC