Senior Training and Consultation Specialist
Rutgers University - UBHC CSOC
Piscataway, New Jersey
Karen Rea, MA Senior Training and Consultation Specialist
Rutgers University, University Behavioral Health Care
Behavioral Research and Training Institute
New Jersey Children’s System of Care (CSOC) Training & Technical Assistance
Karen Rea is a seasoned professional development leader and conference presenter dedicated to ensuring youth and family voices are included at every stage of planning and implementation. With over 30 years of experience in behavioral health, special education, early intervention, trauma, and intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD), she is committed to strengthening competencies, advancing professional development, and expanding support systems to improve the quality of life for children and families across New Jersey.
Karen holds a Master’s degree in Behavioral Sciences – Psychological Services from Kean University and has extensive experience working with the New Jersey Children’s System of Care (NJ CSOC). She serves as the Lead Point Person for the Developmental Disabilities Mental Health – Learning Community (DDMH-LC), a statewide leadership initiative focused on improving practices that support youth with IDD and co-occurring mental health challenges and their families.
A graduate of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) Partners in Policymaking program, Karen contributed to published research, including a chapter in Mental Health and Wellness Supports for Youth with IDD. She also co-authored the article “New Jersey's Historical Development of a Statewide Children's System of Care, Including the Lessons Learned From Embedding CANS Tools” (2015), which provides insights into the evolution of NJ CSOC and integration of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tools.
Karen provided consultation to the Children’s Crisis Intervention Services (CCIS) Clinical Capacity Improvement Project, supporting the integration of evidence based practices in children’s inpatient settings to strengthen care and outcomes. She contributed to the first Promising Path to Success Team, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), where she coached CSOC residential providers in trauma‑informed practices and principles, using evidence‑based Six Core Strategies for Restraint and Seclusion Reduction.
Karen is an appointed voting member of the NJ Regional Family Support Planning Council, where she educates and empowers families in navigating resources across multiple systems, including education, healthcare, behavioral health, and developmental disabilities services.
Beyond her professional expertise, Karen brings lived experience as a family member of youth with mental health, IDD, and co-occurring challenges, including gender identity issues. Her unwavering commitment to advocacy ensures that family voices remain central in shaping policies and practices impacting children and families statewide.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM MDT