Director of TCU’s Institute of Child Development receives child advocacy award

Fort Worth, TX

12/6/2007

Dr. Karyn Purvis, director of TCU’s Institute of Child Development will receive the T. Berry Brazelton, M.D. 2008 Infant Mental Health Award at the Infant Mental Health Advocacy Conference in January.

Purvis’ work uses research-based methods and multidisciplinary intervention methods to educate and train professionals, parents, students and other caregivers to aid children who are at-risk for behavioral and relational disturbances due to early risk factors. The award will be given to Purvis for the work she has done as an advocate for healthy relationships between infants, toddlers and their parents, especially in circumstances that are not optimal. Her work has also impacted adoption, child welfare and family court systems.

The Infant Mental Health Advocacy Council was formed to establish the T. Berry Brazelton Infant Mental Health Advocacy Award to honor Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a Texas native. Dr. Brazelton has returned to Texas throughout his career to share his expertise and knowledge with professionals in many disciplines who work with and care about young children.  His advocacy efforts have been especially directed toward infants, toddlers, and their families.  The first award was given to Dr. Brazelton at the first Biennial Infant Mental Health Advocacy Conference in January 1990.

For more information on the Institute of Child Development or Dr. Karyn Purvis, visit www.child.tcu.edu.