Karen Saywitz

Karen Jill Saywitz (1956 – March 17, 2018) was an American psychologist, author, and educator. She worked as a developmental and clinical psychologist and professor at the UCLA School of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry and Development. For more than 20 years, Saywitz taught child development and was director of several mental health programs for families. She also developed "non-leading" techniques for interviewing child witnesses and victims, based on cognitive and developmental psychology principles. She died of cancer in 2018. Saywitz received national and international attention in the academic community for her research on child abuse, children's mental health, and children's ability to serve as witnesses. Amicus briefs she co-authored have been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and the California Supreme Court as well as numerous U.S. appellate courts.

Saywitz founded the Inter-divisional Task Force on Child and Adolescent Mental Health of the American Psychological Association (APA), and was elected a fellow of the APA in 2009.

Saywitz founded, co-founded, directed, and served with programs dedicated to improving the lives of children. These programs include TIES for Adoption, the National Judicial College, California Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Div. 37's Section on Child Maltreatment and the Inter-divisional Task Force on Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Nicholas Hobbs Award for Research and Child Advocacy (American Psychological Association, Division 37) (2006) Mark Chaffin Outstanding Research Career Achievement Award from the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (2003) Child Abuse Professional of the Year Award from the California Consortium to Prevent Child Abuse Distinguished Service Award from the California Professional Society on the Abuse of Children