Fava, Nicole
- Assistant Professor, School of Social Work , Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work

Overview
overview
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Dr. Nicole Fava is an assistant professor at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work at Florida International University. Her research bridges the childhood adversity and sexuality fields by prioritizing trauma-informed care and resilience-based sexual health promotion for vulnerable youth with histories of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). She was among the first to call for trauma-informed sexuality education to support the sexual health of all youth and to examine positive sexual outcomes and sexual health among youth with maltreatment histories. Fava has examined sexual agency of girls in the child welfare system, impact of social context on developing sexuality, safe sexual behaviors as normative and growth-promoting experiences, and trajectories of sexual health among people with histories of maltreatment, and sexual well-being among Latina farmworkers with histories of sexual trauma.
Dr. Fava’s most recent project, with funding from the NIH and RCMI at FIU, addressed a major gap in knowledge around the sexual health of racial and ethnic minority youth with histories of ACEs. This work is imperative as these youth are over-represented in adverse health outcomes research, but under-represented in examinations of healthy sexuality, leading to potentially inaccurate and over-simplified associations related to their health and well-being. The objective of this research was to develop a universal multidimensional trauma-informed measure of sexual health that would not retraumatize youth with histories of adversity. Guided by trauma-informed principles of trustworthiness and transparency, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment, voice, and choice, and cultural issues, this research departs from a risk-focused framework of sexuality, embraces a comprehensive definition of sexual health, employs trauma-informed principles across all levels of the research process, and focuses on Black and Latinx girls and boys who have experienced childhood adversity. Currently, no trauma-informed measure of sexual health exists. Researchers and clinicians will benefit from a valid and high-utility measure allowing them to more fully understand a critical aspect of development and highlight dimensions of sexual health to target with supportive interventions for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
With additional funding from The Children’s Trust, Dr. Fava leads a project providing trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for youth and families in Miami-Dade, and with funding from the Department of Justice in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Police Department and International Rescue Committee, Dr. Fava is evaluating work being done to address the issue of human trafficking in Miami-Dade.
Overall, Dr. Fava is especially interested in understanding multilevel factors impacting healthy development to inform effective and holistic interventions. She has a strong interdisciplinary background of training in research approaches, methods, and design, as well as training in trauma-specific interventions and holistic evidence-based intervention models.
Dr. Fava joined FIU Stempel College and the Center for Children and Families in 2015. She earned her PhD and MSW from the School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, New York.
research interests
- Healthy adolescent and young adult development, sexual health and well-being, trauma, childhood maltreatment, adverse childhood experiences
Scholarly & Creative Works
selected publications
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Article
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2022Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary impact of mindfulness-based yoga among Hispanic/Latinx adolescentsFull Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2021.03.002 Web of Science: 000803721500009
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2021Trauma-Informed Sex Positive Approaches to Sexual PleasureFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2021.1961965 Web of Science: 000698927800001
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2021Sexual health education: the untapped and unmeasured potential of US-based websitesFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/14681811.2021.1935227 Web of Science: 000661373300001
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2021Longitudinal Effects of Peer, School, and Parenting Contexts on Substance Use Initiation in Middle AdolescenceFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/26408066.2021.1932660 Web of Science: 000658545700001
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2021At risk and in love: A mixed methodexamination of the link between childhood maltreatment and youth relationshipsFull Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.12.007 Web of Science: 000620287200004
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2020Associations Between Sexual Trauma and Sexual Relationship Power Among Latina Immigrant Farmworkers: The Moderating Role of Gender NormsFull Text via DOI: 10.1002/jts.22561 Web of Science: 000548301900001
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2020Psychometric Properties of a Comprehensive Parenting Practice Measure for Parents of AdolescentsFull Text via DOI: 10.1007/s10560-019-00627-6 Web of Science: 000511755200005
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2019Effects of Traumatic Incident Reduction on Posttraumatic Symptoms in a Community-Based AgencyFull Text via DOI: 10.1177/1049731517745993 Web of Science: 000463915700004
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2019Immigration Stress among Recent Latino Immigrants: The Protective Role of Social Support and Religious Social CapitalFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2019.1606749 Web of Science: 000471793900001
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2018A resilience framework: Sexual health trajectories of youth with maltreatment historiesFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2018.1451974 Web of Science: 000428863100005
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2016Patient-Centered Participatory Research in Three Health Clinics: Benefits, Challenges, and Lessons LearnedFull Text via DOI: 10.1177/0193945916654665 Web of Science: 000385960300007
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2016What are we missing? Risk behaviors among Arab-American adolescents and emerging adultsFull Text via DOI: 10.1002/2327-6924.12352 Web of Science: 000385610900006
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2013Patient-centered communication and health assessment with youthFull Text via DOI: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000005
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Conference
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2019Examining the Link Between Childhood Adversity and Youth Sexual Relationships. A192-A192.Web of Science: 000489340400343
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Review
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2020Exploring How Trauma Is Addressed in Sexual Education Interventions for Youth: A Scoping Review. 880-893.Full Text via DOI: 10.1177/1090198120954398 Web of Science: 000567855400001
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2019Parent-Focused Preventive Interventions for Youth Substance Use and Problem Behaviors: A Systematic Review. 420-442.Full Text via DOI: 10.1177/1049731517753686 Web of Science: 000463915700006
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Research
principal investigator on
- Trauma-informed screening & treatment in community university clinic: Parents & youth awarded by Children's Trust 2021 - 2022
- Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Force To Combat Human Trafficking awarded by U.S. Department of Justice 2020 - 2022
- Human Trafficking Program Evaluation awarded by U.S. Department of Justice 2020 - 2022
- Trauma-informed screening & treatment in community university clinic: Parents & youth awarded by Children's Trust 2020 - 2021
- Trauma-informed screening & treatment in community university clinic: Parents & youth awarded by Children's Trust 2019 - 2020
- Trauma-informed screening & treatment in community university clinic: Parents & youth awarded by Children's Trust 2018 - 2019
- Trauma-informed screening & treatment in community university clinic: Parents & youth awarded by Children's Trust 2017 - 2018
subproject principal investigator on
Contact
full name
- Nicole Fava
Identifiers
ORCID iD
- https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9803-2286 (confirmed)
visualizations
publication subject areas
Citation index-derived subject areas the researcher has published in