Karen Harrington

Karen Harrington joined the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department as an Assistant Social Work Professor in the Fall of 2009 after 20 years as a Social Worker at the Children’s Home in Peoria, Illinois.  Karen began her career at Children’s Home as a Family Counselor and, after holding several positions in the areas of child welfare and youth services, was promoted to Director of Family Preservation and Support Services in 2000 and ultimately Vice President in the area of Foster Care in 2007.  Karen has extensive experience in the area of child welfare, primarily with kids who were abused and neglected and their families.  She has testified in numerous child welfare cases and prepared other social workers to testify in court as well.  Karen served on the Council of Accreditation (COA) as a Peer Reviewer and was the statewide co-chair of the Illinois System of Care Committee working with the foster care system.  Karen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and recently received her LICSW to practice clinical social work in Minnesota as well.Karen looks forward to passing on the knowledge she has gained through her professional experience to NCU students preparing to enter the social work field: “Every day I see evidence that the world truly needs a Savior--and not just any Savior, but the one and only true and living Savior.  My prayer every day in going to work is that my life would reflect the love of Jesus to those who need Him most,” she says.  “I am awed that God would choose me for this mission, and excited to be a part of the work that He is doing in the lives of the students at NCU!”