Robin Ostermann-Raj has worked for the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services for 30 years. After graduating with her Master of Science in Social Work from University of Wisconsin – Madison, she worked with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities as well as mental health needs in the Wisconsin county system. Following a couple of years in this position, she began working with the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), specializing in the deinstitutionalization and the development of community services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. During her tenure with the State of Wisconsin DHS, she was the statewide lead for the Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver, specializing with children residing in foster homes and with complex behavioral health needs. She was instrumental in the development of the initial Restrictive Measures Policy in the State of Wisconsin, as well as the ongoing enforcement of this policy.
Ostermann-Raj began her human services career as a college student in Green Bay, WI, working in homes and day service programs for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Over the years, she has also held a variety of part-time and volunteer positions to remain a well-rounded and knowledgeable professional. These include hospital social work, crisis intervention social work, sexual assault volunteering, volunteering as a legal guardian, providing pet therapy, and more. Ostermann-Raj has taught at the university level since 2015 and thoroughly enjoys the world of academia, as well as the opportunity to assist students in their journey to become informed professionals and to have a positive influence on those they serve.
Ostermann-Raj currently works for the State of Wisconsin DHS and is the Area Administrator for the Northeast Region of Wisconsin. In this position, she supervises a team of staff and works with all DHS programs, coordinating with the counties, Indigenous Tribes, constituents, and the state program staff for implementation. She also works with the State of Wisconsin Department of Children’s Services for cross-coordination of programs to serve children and families within the 17 counties and 3 Indigenous Tribes in Northeast Wisconsin.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. With her family, she likes to spend time outdoors and to travel internationally, always seeking new experiences and looking for ways to make a positive impact on other people’s lives.