Full Profile
Margo Candelaria
Research Associate Professor, Research Director, Parent Infant Early Childhood Team
mcandelaria@ssw.umaryland.edu
410-706-8300
Margo Candelaria, Ph.D. is the Co-director of the Parent Infant Early Childhood (PIEC) team at the Institute for Innovation and Implementation at the University of Maryland School of Social overseeing all research and evaluation efforts for the team. This includes two early childhood system of care grants and two large contracts with the Maryland State Department of Education as well as other projects. In this role she focuses on program evaluation and implementation science aimed to improve programs for young children by using data and engaging in CQI processes. She has a long history of conducting research with young children and families at risk including premature infants, drug exposed infants, families in poverty, attachment and parenting concerns, and those struggling with early childhood mental health challenges. Dr. Candelaria is also a licensed developmental psychologist with extensive experience with parenting, early childhood mental health, evidence based interventions, and medically complex children. In addition to her research efforts, she also currently worked as the embedded psychologist in the University of Maryland, NICU Follow-up Program.