The newly dedicated room in memory of Ann Parsons inside ECU Health’s Tender Evaluation, Diagnosis and Intervention for a Better Abuse Response (TEDI BEAR) Children’s Advocacy Center is filled with toys, games, puzzles, books and, of course, teddy bears, all designed to create a safe environment for children in crisis. For those at the clinic, dedicating the room to Parsons’ memory symbolizes her legacy as a nurse practitioner who committed decades of her life to supporting thousands of pediatric patients.
TEDI BEAR is a partnership between the Department of Pediatrics at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center that serves children from birth through 18 who may be victims of abuse. TEDI BEAR and the Mt. Olive Children’s Advocacy Center in Duplin County are valuable resources for families in eastern North Carolina, an underserved region with few behavioral health options for children and adolescents. TEDI BEAR provides forensic interviews, medical evaluations, child advocacy and specialized therapy designed to help children heal from trauma.
Civic groups, individual benefactors and partners like the ECU Health Foundation play a critical role funding the TEDI BEAR Children’s Advocacy Center to give kids in crisis a space to be kids. Recently, TEDI BEAR and the Center for Child and Family Wellness (CCFW) came together under one roof, creating a more connected, compassionate space for healing, prevention and hope. Donor support provides funding for these critical children’s programs.
For more information about how you can support TEDI BEAR, please contact the ECU Health Foundation at 252-847-5626 or click here and complete the form.