Karen Ostrander, MSW, LSW

Karen joined the Office for Cancer Health Equity (OCHE) in September 2021, as a community health worker who serves as the lead OCHE navigator. In this role, she will develop and provide navigation services for OCHE community- and primary care-based initiatives. She will also assist with navigation-related research. Working as a Social Worker for over thirty years, Karen holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Temple University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Shippensburg University. She has been a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the state of Pennsylvania since 2003.

Karen has a strong belief in the strength and resiliency of individuals, especially in the face of hardship and challenge. She believes that individuals are a partner in their care and recovery, and the connection with others is paramount in the helping relationship. The values of respect, integrity and dignity are vital in her interactions with those with whom she works. Her passion for assisting others began in the child welfare field, focusing on child abuse/neglect, foster care/adoption, mental health and juvenile justice.

Karen started her career as the Children’s Advocate at the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center in Lebanon. From there, Karen spent a number of years working with children in the foster care and adoption system, and later in children’s mental health, where she was a Behavioral Specialist and a Mobile Therapist. She then moved into curriculum development, first as a Curriculum Writer, then Curriculum Supervisor, and finally as Director of Curriculum for the PA Child Welfare Training Program. Karen has also gained experience in hospital social work, working as an inpatient Social Worker at Penn State Hershey, as well as the Heart Transplant/Mechanical Support Social Worker, and a Kidney Transplant Social Worker. In addition, she has experience as a hospice Social Worker.

Karen was born and raised in South Central PA, and has lived in this area her entire life. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, baking and traveling. Her personal travel goal is to see all 50 states and step foot on every continent of the world. Karen loves to spend time with her husband and two daughters, who are both growing up way too fast. She also enjoys her three cats, one tortoise, four hermit crabs and lots of fish.