Cara Alexander holds a PhD in International Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She earned a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor where she majored in Social Welfare Administration and minored Interpersonal Practice. She has a Bachelor degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Dr. Alexander is dually licensed is an independent Clinical Social Worker in Georgia and Maryland. She is a Board Certified Diplomate (BCD) in Clinical Social Work. She has over twenty years of experience in the field of behavioral health, HIV/AIDS, co-occurring disorders, and executive management. Her practice foundation is ingrained with extensive micro and macro practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in all types of integrated settings (including but not limited to-private and public hospitals, federal/military treatment facilities, community health, substance abuse treatment, home health, school settings, juvenile court systems). She specializes in working with children, adolescents, families, and couples.
Dr. Alexander has developed unique niche in the international context. She is a International Subject Matter Expert specializing in addressing behavioral health issues faced by key populations (Young Woman Adolescent Girls, Men who have Sex with Men, and People Who Inject Drugs) of the HIV epidemic, as well as possesses comprehensive knowledge of social and psychological factors that underpin stigma and discrimination regarding HIV domestically and globally. She managed grant awards that spanned across more than eight countries (South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, India, Ukraine, Caribbean regions and China). Her expertise has been utilized to provide technical assistance on implementation of direct service and systems strengthening activities for addressing the behavioral health drivers in HIV prevention, treatment and care. She has also worked with domestic HIV epidemic control.
Dr. Alexander has designed and conducted research focused on specific behavioral and cultural factors impacting prevention of HIV among Latino women and completed a Global Clinical Scholars Research Training postdoc program with an emphasis in epidemiology at Harvard Medical School. She has been an adjunct lecturer in the School of Social Work Virtual Academic Center at University of Southern California for over seven years. Where she has taught Advanced Theories and Clinical interventions for Children and Adolescents, Advanced Theories and Clinical Interventions for Children and Families and Integrated Care Models.
She takes a special interest in learning about other cultures around the world and the specific behavioral health factors present in each country context that need to be addressed to promote positive behavioral health among children and families globally. She has two children and an adorable Yorkie!
