Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development

Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development We strive to improve the lives of children through research, education and outreach that addresses the impact of early abuse, neglect, and trauma.

The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development strives to help children suffering the effects of early trauma, abuse or neglect. We conduct research to deepen understanding about the complex needs of these children and how and why these harmful experiences can impair development and lead to social, behavioral and emotional problems. We design and promote research-based models for practical interventions that anyone can use to help children heal and reach their highest potential.

Introducing the canines of KPICD in honor of National Dog Day! 🐶Meet some of the amazing four-legged companions behind o...
08/26/2026

Introducing the canines of KPICD in honor of National Dog Day! 🐶

Meet some of the amazing four-legged companions behind our incredible team. From hard-working hounds to tail-wagging tricksters, these pups bring plenty of joy, laughter, and love into the lives of our staff.

Swipe through to meet some of our furry population!

Happy National Dog Day from the KPICD! 💜🐾

08/25/2026

Join us for "Transforming Cultures of Care", a unique continuing education seminar for TBRI® Practitioners - available live or on-demand October 28th, 2026.

🔗 Head to child.tcu.edu/tbri-practitioner-seminar or your myTBRI portal to register!

Welcome to all our new and returning students! Let's kick off the semester in true TBRI® style with an engine check.Comm...
08/24/2026

Welcome to all our new and returning students!

Let's kick off the semester in true TBRI® style with an engine check.

Comment below with a ❤️, 💙, or 💚 to let us know how your engine is running today!

Introducing one of the incredible members of our Education team, Sarah Cronin!As we finish up our series introducing the...
08/24/2026

Introducing one of the incredible members of our Education team, Sarah Cronin!

As we finish up our series introducing the amazing people who support our students, we’re excited to highlight someone who plays an essential role in guiding our graduate students throughout their academic journeys.

Sarah serves as our Student Programs Coordinator for Graduate Students, supporting students every step of the way from admissions and advising to events and everything in between. With our graduate Developmental Trauma Program now being exclusively online, Sarah connects with and supports students across the nation, helping them feel connected to TCU and KPICD no matter where they are.

Sarah also played a key role in bringing the online graduate program to life, using her years of experience working with both undergraduate and graduate students at the KPICD to help create this groundbreaking milestone at TCU. We're so grateful for the care and support that Sarah shows our students and her role in helping many KPICD students feel welcome and supported throughout their academic journeys.

Join us in wishing Sarah a wonderful fall semester ahead and incredible start to our inaugural online Developmental Trauma program! 💜🐸

KPICD sighting confirmed at the TCU Opening Luncheon! 👀💜Our team joined fellow faculty and staff for award recognitions,...
08/21/2026

KPICD sighting confirmed at the TCU Opening Luncheon! 👀💜

Our team joined fellow faculty and staff for award recognitions, connection, and a shared lunch in the Schollmaier Arena today as we kicked off the new academic year.

We’re especially proud to celebrate our very own Tami Zeiner, who was nominated for the Charley and Kate Thorp Award for Advancing Community in recognition of her commitment to advancing TCU’s connected community. Congratulations, Tami! 🎉

Introducing one of the incredible members of our Education team, Tami Zeiner!As we continue introducing the amazing peop...
08/21/2026

Introducing one of the incredible members of our Education team, Tami Zeiner!

As we continue introducing the amazing people who support our students, we’re excited to highlight someone who plays an essential role in creating meaningful experiences and opportunities for students both inside and outside the classroom.

Tami serves as the Education Coordinator for Undergraduate Programs and a CHDV advisor, where she helps coordinate undergraduate programs while providing guidance, encouragement, and mentorship to students throughout their time at TCU. She is also the star behind our study abroad programs, helping students turn their interests in child development into opportunities to learn, grow, and experience the world beyond campus.

Beyond her work in advising and program coordination, Tami oversees student events, celebrations, and campus involvement initiatives that help foster connection and community among our students. She is a mentor and trusted resource to many, always going above and beyond to support students and make their college experience meaningful.

Recently, Tami was nominated for the Charley and Kate Thorp Award for Advancing Community, recognizing her dedication to building community and creating positive experiences for those around her. We’re so grateful for the care, creativity, and enthusiasm she brings to our students and the Child Development community!

Join us in celebrating Tami and wishing her a great Fall semester ahead! 💜🐸

KPICD and Reuben Burch joined the law firm Troutman Pepper Locke in their suite at the Rangers game this week! ⚾️🏟️Tucke...
08/20/2026

KPICD and Reuben Burch joined the law firm Troutman Pepper Locke in their suite at the Rangers game this week! ⚾️🏟️

Tucker Davison and others at the firm have been incredible partners of TCU, providing legal guidance to the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development for well over a decade.

We are incredibly grateful for their involvement and for their generosity in hosting us! 💜

TCU Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering

Have you listened to Season 12 of The TBRI® Podcast? Here are a few insightful conversations from the season you may hav...
08/18/2026

Have you listened to Season 12 of The TBRI® Podcast?

Here are a few insightful conversations from the season you may have missed!

🎙️ Supporting Young Adults in Times of Transition with Kim Glaudy
🎙️ Launching Young Adults from Highschool with Brooke Kaskela
🎙️ Supporting Emerging Adults in the College Years with Dr. Casey Call and Dr. Molly O'Mealey
🎙️ Meeting the Needs of Bio Families with Reba Huskins
🎙️ Friends from the Journey Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary with John Warren
🎙️ Helping Our Kids Understand Their Histories with Jill Crewes

Listen to Season 12 and explore previous episodes on your favorite podcast now!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tbri-podcast/id1566206875
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1faXbccOmaGTGxVisbJ2yT?si=f8fe5ed0ea754ac3

Introducing one of our incredible educators, Debbie Wheeler!As we continue introducing the amazing faculty who will be t...
08/18/2026

Introducing one of our incredible educators, Debbie Wheeler!

As we continue introducing the amazing faculty who will be teaching this fall, we’re excited to highlight someone who brings both professional expertise and a deep passion for child life education to our students.

Debbie Wheeler is a Child Life Educator at Cook Children’s, where she works closely with children and families while helping prepare the next generation of child life professionals. She is especially passionate about the power of play and supporting the social-emotional needs of children, bringing that passion into both her professional practice and the classroom.

Professor Wheeler has been a wonderful mentor and resource for our students, particularly those pursuing careers in child life. Through her guidance and support, she helps students in their child life journeys and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to enter the field.

This fall, Professor Wheeler will be teaching CHDV30223: Fundamentals of Play and CHDV40223: Fundamentals of Child Life Practice. She also serves on the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) Education and Training Committee and continues to advocate for greater recognition of the child life profession and better working conditions for child life specialists. We’re so grateful for the expertise, passion, and mentorship she brings to our students and the child life field!

Join us in wishing Professor Wheeler a wonderful fall semester! 💜🐸

Introducing another one of our incredible professors, Dr. Molly O'Mealey!Dr. O'Mealey is a familar face among students a...
08/10/2026

Introducing another one of our incredible professors, Dr. Molly O'Mealey!

Dr. O'Mealey is a familar face among students as both an instructor for both Child Development and Psychology classes as well as a CHDV advisor. Dr. O'Mealey has extensive teaching and research experience in developmental psychology, providing students a strong foundation to build their care and practice off.

She also serves as a mentor and advisor to many undergraduate students, helping them navigate their academic journeys, explore their interests, and prepare for their future careers. Through her mentorship, Dr. O'Mealey encourages students to grow both academically and professionally while supporting them as they discover how their education can shape their future endeavors.

This fall, she wil be teaching CHDV20123: Trauma-Informed Interventions, CHDV30533: Developmental Research and Evaluation, and PSYC30313: Developmental Psychology for our undergraduate students. Additionally, she will be teaching our first online DETR61753: Advanced Developmental Psychology course for our graduate students.

Join us in wishing Dr. O'Mealey a wonderful fall semester! 🐸💜

Address

2901 W Lowden, Rees-Jones Hall #314
Fort Worth, TX
76109

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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