About the ETC Contributors
Karyn Purvis, PhD.
Dr. Purvis is the director of the TCU Institute of Child Development. She has devoted the past decade to developing research-based interventions for at-risk children. She and her colleague Dr. David Cross were awarded the Heroes in Healthcare Award in 2006 by the Dallas Business Journal, and they have co-authored the best-selling adoption book, The Connected Child (2007).
Dr. Purvis has received numerous awards and honors, including the T. Berry Brazelton, M.D. Infant Mental Health Advocacy Award, the title of Distinguished Fellow in Adoption and Child Development bestowed by The National Council for Adoption, and the James Hammerstein Award, given annually to honor someone who has displayed outstanding dedication to children in need.
Karyn is a former foster parent, a mother of three boys and a grandmother of eight. Read more about her lifelong passion to serve children from hard places and how she has faithfully followed God’s calling in her life.
Michael & Amy Monroe
Michael and Amy Monroe are the proud parents of four children, each of whom were adopted. Together they lead Tapestry, the adoption and foster care ministry at Irving Bible Church. Since 2005, Tapestry has grown to serve hundreds of families and children through a wide variety of educational events, training, support groups, financial assistance and community outreach. Michael and Amy have had the privilege of personally providing support and counsel to countless couples and singles in the adoption and foster care process. They are also active leaders in the growing movement among Christian churches in America committed to serving orphans through adoption, foster care and global orphan care ministry. Michael and Amy speak regularly at adoption conferences and Michael writes frequently for national adoption and foster care publications. In 2010, they co-authored with Dr. Purvis Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child, a study guide companion to The Connected Child. Over 15,000 print copies of the study guide have been distributed, and it is widely used by churches ministries and support groups to help educate and encourage parents.
Lisa Qualls
Lisa Qualls and her husband Russ have eleven amazing children ranging in age from 25 to five, who came to them by both birth and adoption. Their adoption journey is marked by many joys as well challenges of trauma and attachment. They are passionate about adoption, orphan care, street children, and children living with HIV. Lisa writes the blog, One Thankful Mom where she explores issues related to adoption and family life. She also serves with From HIV to Home. Together Russ and Lisa serve on the Board of Until Then.