Today we’re talking with Amanda Purvis who is a Training Specialist with us here at the Institute. In her role, Amanda’s main focus is training professionals in TBRI and supporting organizations and systems who are implementing the model. Amanda has a background in Child Protective Services as well as foster care, and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Today, Amanda and our host, Sarah Mercado, chat about the impact of trauma on the brains, bodies, biology, and belief system of children who have experienced harm. 

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Amanda Purvis is a Training Specialist with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD) at TCU. As training specialist, Amanda’s main focus is instructing professionals working with children who have experienced trauma, in Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®). TBRI, a holistic, attachment-based, and trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children, offers practical tools for caregivers to help those in their care reach their highest potential.

Amanda earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Metropolitan State University in Denver, CO. She began her career working in Child Protective Services as an intake worker. She then transitioned to foster care and post-adoption support, where she spent a decade of her career before beginning her work with the Purvis Institute in December 2017.

Amanda lives in Castle Rock, CO with her husband and five children, and their dog, Hamilton.

Sarah Mercado is a Training Specialist with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD). As training specialist, Sarah’s main focus is instructing professionals working with children who have experienced trauma, in Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®). TBRI®, a holistic, attachment-based, and trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children, offers practical tools for caregivers to help those in their care reach their highest potential.

Sarah earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Sweet Briar College in Virginia. She began her career as a direct care staff working with adolescent boys living in a Residential Treatment Center (RTC). After serving in the RTC for several years, she shifted her focus to foster care, where she was Regional Director for a foster and adoption agency.

Sarah spent 20 years serving youth and families within residential and foster care settings as a direct-care worker and trainer before beginning her work with the Purvis Institute in May 2016. Sarah lives near Austin, TX with her husband, AJ, and their two children.