Officials cut ribbon on new TEDI BEAR Center

GREENVILLE, N.C.  —   Officials and dignitaries introduced the new site of the TEDI BEAR Children’s Advocacy Center during a ceremony today.

The new center, which serves children who have allegedly been physically abused or neglected, is at 2303 Executive Circle off Stantonsburg Road across from Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

From left, Dr. Ron Perkin, chairman of pediatrics at ECU; Steve Lawler, PCMH president; Dr. Elaine Cabinum-Foeller, TEDI BEAR Center medical director; Dr. Edwin Sumter, retired ECU pediatrician; Rep. Marian McLawhorn; Dr. Phyllis Horns, interim vice chancellor.

The 6,100-square-foot facility is more than twice as large as the previous site. It has a larger patient area with two interview rooms, two examination rooms and two monitoring rooms.

“It allows for more privacy and comfort for the children and the families who visit our center each year, and will now accommodate concurrent evaluation services,” said Julie Ocker, center director.

The center also has more office space for staff members. The number of employees at the center has almost doubled in the past three years, Ocker said.

The facility is leased by PCMH and staffed by ECU.

The TEDI BEAR Center opened in 1992 with leadership from the Brody School of Medicine and is also supported by PCMH, other state and local agencies, and with contributions from groups and individuals. It is one of only two such centers in eastern North Carolina. More than 5,000 children have been seen since it began.

TEDI BEAR stands for Tender Evaluation, Diagnosis and Intervention for a Better Abuse Response. More information about the center is at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/pediatrics/TEDIBEAR.cfm.