The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development is a program of the Department of Psychology in the TCU College of Science & Engineering in Fort Worth, Texas. Our mission is: to improve the lives of children through research, education, and outreach that addresses the impact of early abuse, neglect, and trauma. Our research and interventions are empowering parents, professionals, and students with trauma-informed strategies that improve outcomes for children and youth.
Our History:
The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development was created as an outgrowth of the Hope Connection®, a research and intervention project developed in 1999 by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross. The Hope Connection® began as a summer camp for adopted children who experienced early orphanage care. The results proved so remarkable, they sparked a compelling scientific and personal journey for Drs. Purvis and Cross. By the end of the first week and into the second week of camp, they saw dramatic changes in attachment, social competency with peers, and in language. These outcomes formed the empirical foundations for Trust-based Relational Intervention (TBRI)®, a model for children from “hard places.”
Beyond the camp setting, TBRI® has made remarkable changes in the lives of children and youth. Since the days of the first Hope Connection® Camp, which focused on families who adopt children from hard places, the Institute has expanded it’s focus by training professionals who work in a variety of caregiving contexts, including foster homes, residential settings, court rooms and classrooms.
In 2016, the Institute began a new chapter of its history by changing its name from TCU Institute of Child Development to Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, in honor of the late Dr. Purvis.