Infant Mental Health Mentor-Research/Faculty

Sociocultural Psychologist and Developmental Scientist

Dr. Lewis earned a PhD in Sociocultural Psychology, and Associate Professor at Tulane University School of Social Work. Her research is the basis for culturally valid, strengths-based community interventions with African-American caregivers and young children. These groups promote the forthcoming book, Therapeutic Cultural Routines to Build Family Relationships: Talk, Touch & Listen While Combing Hair© (Lewis & Weatherston, 2021, Springer).

She has published and presented her research at national and international meetings and provides training and organizational diversity. In 2011 she was commissioned by the National Zero to Three Safe Baby Court Teams to provide consultation, coaching, and training on issues of bias, historical trauma of slavery, and racial disparities in the child welfare system. She is currently a consultant and member of the national Advisory Board of the Quality Improvement Center for Research-Based Infant-Toddler Court Teams.

Her full Curriculum Vitae is available at http://tssw.tulane.edu/

In her own words:

“I study sociocultural contextual factors to understand challenges faced by vulnerable families of color. These factors include the intergenerational childrearing practices and legacies of the historical trauma of slavery. I examine the impact of these legacies such as toxic stereotypes linked to the practice of, and acceptance or rejection of children. We analyze the influence of ecological factors that shape parental behavior—such as stress and internalized oppression—using videotaped parent-child hair combing interaction. Findings from my research have been translated into trauma-informed, culturally valid assessment and interventions for families of color.”