Dr. Garcia’s research and clinical expertise center on developing and implementing parenting interventions for young children with developmental delays, disabilities, and conditions that increase the risk for disability. Her work investigates how child, caregiver, and family factors shape child behavior and development. With specialized training in parenting interventions for pediatric brain injury and extensive experience treating disruptive behavior disorders in young children from underrepresented ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds, Dr. Garcia is dedicated to promoting equitable access to effective care.
Recognizing that children and families from historically underserved communities often face barriers to engaging in evidence-based parenting programs, her research emphasizes refining and tailoring these interventions to enhance their accessibility and cultural relevance. Her work is driven by two primary goals: (1) creating integrated, flexible parenting interventions that meet the unique needs of diverse families within their local contexts, and (2) identifying and evaluating training approaches that support the effective implementation of evidence-based programs, thereby strengthening professional and organizational capacity to improve family outcomes.
