Tina Collins champions abused and neglected children in North Carolina

Tina Collins, vice president and executive director of Advocates for Abused and Neglected Children in Archdale, North Carolina, is being spotlighted for her work as a court-appointed child advocate, nonprofit leader and former educator. Her career spans 26 years in the classroom and a growing focus on helping vulnerable children get education, medical care, safety and other basic needs.

Why it matters: - Tina Collins works with abused and neglected children whose needs can be missed when families face language barriers or limited community awareness. - Her role affects access to education, medical care, safety and basic support for children in North Carolina. - Collins combines classroom experience, bilingual skills and court advocacy in work that can shape long-term outcomes for vulnerable children.

What happened: - Influential Women spotlighted Collins for her leadership at Advocates for Abused and Neglected Children, also known as AANCR / Voice of a Child. - Collins serves as vice president and executive director of the organization in Archdale, North Carolina. - She also serves as a court-appointed child advocate and participates in community awareness efforts and local radio programs. - The profile was published on October 14, 2026.

The details: - Collins spent 26 years as a classroom teacher specializing in English as a Second Language. - Her path into teaching was shaped by a middle school teacher and a high school foreign exchange experience in Central America. - She earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southwestern State University. - Collins completed graduate studies in English as a Second Language at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. - She holds a Child Advocate Certification. - Collins is a first-generation college graduate and fluent in Spanish. - She was named one of her school district’s Teachers of the Year for the 2021–2022 school year. - The recognition gave her chances to model best practices for multilingual learners and take on leadership roles in her school and district. - Collins says a strong support system and guidance from mentors helped shape her career. - A principal once told her to take care of herself because no one can pour from an empty cup, advice Collins still follows. - She tells young women entering nonprofit work to prioritize self-care, ask for help and keep learning. - Collins sees community awareness as a major challenge in serving abused and neglected children, especially those who do not speak English as a first language. - She says a lack of understanding about those children’s needs has remained a challenge for the past five years. - Her bilingual background and teaching experience help her bridge that gap. - Through court advocacy, Collins speaks on behalf of children so their needs stay central in decisions that affect their futures. - She is also involved with the Invictus Project, which supports efforts to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. - Her advocacy has received public attention, including front-page coverage in the Courier-Tribune and a guest appearance on a local radio show. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile.

Between the lines: - Collins’ story is framed as a blend of education, advocacy and bilingual communication skills, which positions her to work across schools, courts and community organizations. - The profile emphasizes service-oriented leadership over title alone, highlighting patience, empathy and persistence as core tools in child advocacy. - The focus on multilingual families suggests that language access remains a practical barrier in child welfare work.

What's next: - Collins is expected to continue leading AANCR / Voice of a Child while expanding awareness efforts around child abuse, neglect and exploitation. - Her ongoing work with court advocacy and community outreach suggests a continued role in shaping support systems for vulnerable children.

The bottom line: - Collins has built a career around one mission: make sure children are seen, heard and protected.