Several agencies within Edgecombe County have agreed to mutual protocols with The TEDI BEAR Center in Greenville when helping child sex-crime victims.

The TEDI BEAR (Tender Evaluation, Diagnosis and Intervention for a BEtter Abuse Response( Center), which is affiliated with East Carolina University, specializes in handling sex abuse cases involving children under the age of 18. That includes providing medical and mental health services to the children.

Seventh Prosecutorial District Attorney Robert Evans, the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office, Tarboro Police and the Edgecombe County Department of Social Services are among the agencies who agreed to work together under similar guidelines to help young victims of sex-related crimes.

TEDI BEAR Center faculty Pamela Whitted said the goals of the new Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) within Edgecombe County are "to address current issues of child safety and the status of child abuse cases.

"(They work) to strengthen the interagency response to concerns of child abuse in a manner that supports and protects children, their families, and their community. Through the sharing of information, resources, expertise, and accountability, the MDT may prevent children from 'falling through the cracks,' as well as improve the 'system response' to child abuse allegations," Whitted said.

"We're just excited about" participating in the team along with The TEDI BEAR Center and the other agencies, said Edgecombe County Department of Social Services Director Marva Scott.

"We’ve had child protective services and fatality teams, so it’s all of those people looking out for the best interests of the children working with those families," Scott said.

"It was so good to have the district attorney there with us, assistant district attorney and SBI folks with us, the sheriff and others who are key players in others that go along with the families."

Other agencies involved with the Edgeocmbe County MDT with the TEDI BEAR Center include the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, The Beacon Center and Edgecombe County Public Schools.