Margo Candelaria

Margo Candelaria, PhD, is an Associate Research Professor at the Innovations Institute, University of Connecticut School of Social Work. She specializes in early childhood development, mental health, and systems-based interventions to improve outcomes for children and families.

• Co-Director of the Parent, Infant, Early Childhood team at Innovations Institute
• Principal Investigator (PI) for HRSA-funded TREEHOUSE and SAMHSA/NCTSN-funded FASTT projects

Research Interests

• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
• Parent-Child Interactions
• Early Childhood and Family Serving Systems
• Early Intervention
• Social Emotional Well-Being in Pediatrics

Dr. Candelaria's work focuses on implementation science, workforce development, and evaluation of programs such as the National Pyramid Model Practices and trauma-informed clinical models. She has extensive experience across medical systems, community mental health agencies, and early intervention programs.