Written by Nic Fraraccio // Graphic by Makayla McDonald
Harding’s Interdisciplinary Committee introduced a new minor this semester that will teach students how to intervene and provide help for developing children.
The child advocacy minor was formed to provide multiple options for majors such as psychology, criminal justice and interdisciplinary studies. However, the minor is open to all majors at the University.
Dr. Kathy Helpenstill, associate professor of behavioral sciences, has led the development of the new minor.
Ideas for the new minor emerged when Helpenstill noticed students taking a high number of elective classes within other departments, she said. Helpenstill said she also noticed that other universities across the country included the child advocacy minor within their programs.
Helpenstill said the minor will allow departments to collaborate and give students a different look into child advocacy.
“My No. 1 goal would be to give a broader perspective to the students,” Helpenstill said. “This is super powerful and eye-opening for us even as Christians.”
The minor will require students to take 18 credit hours involving multiple departments on campus. Offered classes will cover a variety of topics including child abuse and neglect, therapeutic perspectives of play and cooperative education.
Helpenstill also said the minor will encourage the Harding community to advocate for those who cannot themselves.
“We are not called to rescue people,” Helpenstill said. “We are called to sit, partner with, accompany and love on each other.”
Department chair for family and consumer sciences Brittany Cumbie said students will learn how to be the best advocates for children in any field.
“I think that having child development knowledge can give you the tools to be able to work with kids successfully,” Cumbie said. “That helps you as a servant of God.”
Professor of behavioral sciences Dr. Travis McNeal said the minor will give students the opportunity to “run towards the broken.”
“Every community has children who need adults to advocate for them, whether that be in the foster care system, the criminal justice system or elsewhere,” McNeal said. “At Harding, we have many students who have a heart to serve in this way. The child advocacy minor equips them to do just that.”
The committee plans to introduce a one-hour multidisciplinary team seminar in February 2024 that will demonstrate and present perspectives on how to handle a crisis as a child advocate. The seminar will include in-class simulations that will prepare students for situations within their given field.
As the fall semester continues, Helpenstill said all majors are welcome and would benefit from learning how to provide for children.
“A minor like this can be helpful to anybody, because you are going to interact with kids and you need to know how to talk to them in a developmentally appropriate way,” Helpenstill said.
