Mackenzie Harris

Criminal Justice Major with a Concentration in Forensics - South Enotah Child Advocacy Center

How did you hear about your internship?

I heard about my internship with the South Enotah Child Advocacy Center through two other UNG students. They had both previously been an intern with this agency. I heard nothing but positive things about each of their internship experiences. I then decided to take a tour of the center and immediately loved it!

What has been the most valuable (or favorite) part of the experience?

The most valuable part of my experience so far has been learning how child advocacy centers fit into the bigger picture of the Criminal Justice System. We work very closely with law enforcement, child protective services, the District Attorney’s Office, medical field, and mental health field. This has given me the opportunity to see how the different local agencies function with cases involving children.

My favorite part of this experience has been meeting the wonderful women who I work with. They all take time out of their busy days to teach me the ins and outs of their unique roles in child advocacy. Each time I leave my internship, I feel confident that I know more than I did the previous day. I’m extremely appreciative to have met them and for the knowledge they each bring to me. They go out of their way to help me make connections and are always willing to help me in the next steps of my career. Working with such genuine people has made my internship experience extra rewarding!

How will this help you in the future?

This experience will help me significantly in the future because I now understand how multiple different agencies within the Criminal Justice System work together. I have also discovered through my internship that I have a passion to advocate for children and their families who have been victims of abuse, neglect, and violence. Without this internship experience, I don’t think I would have the clarity that I now have about my future career and ambitions.