Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan
About
Associate professor Robert Ortega’s research interests are in the areas treatment interventions and service utilization particularly in the areas of child welfare and mental health, relationship development and group work practice with a special focus on diversity and social justice He currently working on projects related to culturally responsive comprehensive child maltreatment assessments and treatment, assessing abusive fathers, fatherhood, and workforce turnover.
He is the recipient of the state-wide NASW-MI Lisa Putnam Award for excellence in child welfare, Council on Social Work Education Recent Distinguished Contributions to Social Work Education, APSAC Outstanding Service and Advancement of Cultural Competency in Child Maltreatment Prevention, and School of Social Work Distinguished Faculty.
Dr. Ortega serves as consultant on several national research projects and organizations focusing on social work, child welfare and social justice issues.
Current Work:
Dr. Ortega recently completed a book of social justice and group work practice in which he explores systemic contributions to understanding issues of power, privilege and oppression internal to groups and in response to external forces.
Also, he is currently involved in developing psychosocial assessment and interventions with maltreated children and non-abusive parents, fathers and parenthood, and interventions with abusive fathers. His work on culturally responsive practice continues to be integrated in all my scholarship.
Research Area Keyword(s):
Child welfare, social justice, cultural humility
