Karen D. Barbee-Dixon, Ed.D. - Chief Operating Officer
Karen D. Barbee-Dixon has been employed for over 23 years at Habilitative Systems, Inc. She maintains a Doctoral Degree in Educational Psychology from Northern Illinois University, serves as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for day-to-day operations. The organization’s Systems’ Enhancement, Strategic planning, Quality Improvement, Internship Placements, Research, Evaluation and Education activities are also coordinated out of her office. Prior to her current role, Dr. Barbee-Dixon served as Deputy Executive Director for HSI’s program operations and Division Director for the agency’s special education, prevention and child care programs. Her 26-year management experience in the social services and academic arenas evolved from her early years in a Special Education school - based clinical and administrative capacity in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
Dr. Barbee- Dixon has a strong clinical background in the provision of programs to children, youth and their families. In 2004, she was selected for a two - year Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Illinois – Circle, Department of Psychiatry – Disruptive Behaviors Clinic. The clinic has a mission of designing, delivering, and developing state-of-the-art mental health interventions for children and families with externalizing disorders and co-morbid problems
Dr. Barbee-Dixon has played an integral role in leading the organization’s efforts to achieve International Accreditation from CARF- The Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, since 1991. She serves as a Surveyor for CARF and offers consultant services in Organizational Leadership and Development, Accreditation Preparation, and Outcomes Management and Evaluation to other Social Service organizations across the Chicago land area. She is also a member of various national and local organizations, is an Advisory Board member for the University of Illinois at Circle, Institute for Juvenile Research, and serves as a current board member for Circle of Parents - Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Barbee-Dixon has received numerous honors for her work with Children and Families. Her current goals are to establish Habilitative Systems, Inc.’s internal research infrastructure, conduct community-based research and associated publications and directly influence increased agency collaborations with colleges and universities on both local and national levels.
