Karen Blessinger

• Clinical Assistant Professor
  Indiana University Indianapolis, School of Social Work — 2021 – Present

• Local Office Director
  Department of Child Services, Henry County — 2017 – 2021
• Local Office Director
  Department of Child Services, Madison County — 2014 – 2017
• Family Case Manager Supervisor
  Department of Child Services, Henry County — 2008 – 2014
• Family Case Manager
  Department of Child Services, Henry and Delaware County — 2006 – 2008
• Psychiatric Social Service Specialist
  Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility — 2004 – 2006
• Youth Services Officer
  Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility — 2000 – 2001
• Public Assistance Caseworker
  Division of Family and Children — 2001 – 2004

• Promotion and Tenure Dossier Prep Workshop
  Webinar — 2025
• IUSSW Faculty Retreat
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2025
• IUSSW Alumni Conference
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2025
• IUSSW Faculty/Staff Retreat
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2023
• Council of Field Educators
  Council on Social Work Education — 2023
• IUSSW Field Team Diversity Retreat
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2023
• IUSSW Alumni Conference
  Indiana University School of Social Work Alumni — 2023
• IUSSW Diversity Training
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2023
• IUSSW Diversity Training
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2022
• Indiana University School of Social Work Field Retreat
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2022
• Indiana University School of Social Work Staff and Faculty Retreat
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2022
• Youth and Families Summit
  Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana — 2021
• Leadership Academy for Middle Managers Graduate
  NCWWI-LAAM — 2016
• Leadership Team Member for Multi-Disciplinary Team
  Kids Talk — 2015 – 2017
• Leadership Academy for Supervisors Graduate
  NCWWI-LAS — 2010

Teaching Assignments

Curriculum Development

• Major Curriculum Revision, Member and Co-Lead — Children, Youth, and Families Curriculum Group
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2022 – Present
• Major Curriculum Revision, Member — Schools Focus Area Curriculum Committee
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2021 – Present
• Major Curriculum Revision, Member — MSW Curriculum Committee
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2021 – Present

Teaching Presentations

• Pierce, B., Walke, K., Ray-Bennett, K., & Ressler, J. (2025). Strengthening resilience in school mental health social workers: Indiana/MHSP learning circle strategies. In ResilienceCon.
• Pierce, B., Ray-Bennett, K., Walke, K., & Ressler, J. (2025). Integrating school social work learning circles: Enhancing the MSW learner experience. In Advancing School Mental Health Conference.

Department Service

• 651/652 Master Course Committee, committee member (March 31, 2023 – December 20, 2024). Approximately 7 hours per year. The committee worked on developing a master course for 651/652 field placement and seminars to provide consistency for field liaisons and students. Surveys and focus groups were conducted with field liaisons to gather feedback used in course development.
• Field Instructor/Task Instructor Professional Development Committee, committee member (June 30, 2021 – present). Approximately 3 hours per year.
• School Mental Health Grant Team, placement coordinator and recruitment (Summer 2023 – December 2025). Recruited and placed students within approved placements for the grant fellowship; served as liaison to schools, agencies, practicum instructors, and students; and participated in facilitating learning circles for students and practicum instructors.

University Service

• Field Coordinator Training Committee, Chair
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2022 – 2025
  Co-led development of a universal field coordinator training for all programs, facilitating meetings, organizing agendas, and reporting progress to system-wide field leadership.
• Optimal Field Site Workgroup, Member
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2022 – 2024
  Reviewed and redesigned the field site evaluation form and developed coded criteria for site quality and placement standards.
• Field Restructuring Committee, Member
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2021 – 2025
  Conducted a SWOT analysis of the field education unit and developed surveys to explore improvements to field staff structure and coordination.
• Community and Belonging Council, Member
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2021 – Present
• School Assembly, Member
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2021 – Present
• Faculty Senate, Member
  Indiana University School of Social Work — 2021 – Present

Professional Service

• Board Member
  Safe at Home — 2022 – Present
  Provides governance oversight for a local victim advocacy organization serving individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Board Member
  Henry County Health Department — 2018 – Present
• Participant
  MSW Graduate Recognition Event, Indiana University Indianapolis — 2025