Carina Alvarez, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral fellow at Florida International University’s Center for Children and Families. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Virginia, with specialized training in early childhood and school psychology.
At the Center for Children and Families, Dr. Alvarez is involved in bilingual psychological and psychoeducational evaluations across early childhood and school-age populations, working with children presenting with developmental delays, ADHD, autism, and behavioral difficulties, among other areas of concern. She also provides consultation and intervention services through community-based programs, including Parent Club and the Thena Summer Academy, where she supports caregivers and staff in implementing evidence-based strategies to promote children’s development.
Dr. Alvarez’s clinical training spans a range of evidence-based assessment and intervention settings. She approaches clinical work through a systems-oriented, family-centered lens, advocating for bilingual children and families by coordinating across educational, healthcare, and community contexts.
Her research interests center on understanding how educators’ beliefs and everyday practices within school-based contexts shape the social-emotional, behavioral, and academic development of young children, particularly dual language learners (DLLs). Building on her dissertation work examining associations between teachers’ classroom practices and children’s social-emotional and behavioral outcomes, her research interests continue to evolve toward understanding how educators more broadly conceptualize and support DLLs within educational settings.