Robert M. Ortega

Associate Professor of Social Work

Robert M. Ortega

Degrees

BA, Psychology, 1977, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor;
MSW, Families and Groups, 1983, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor;
MA, Social Psychology, 1987, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor;
PhD, Social Work and Social Psychology, 1991, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

BioSketch

Associate Professor Robert Ortega has been on faculty at the University of Michigan School of Social Work since 1991. He teaches foundation and advanced interpersonal practice courses and is clinical consultant to the School of Social Work's Family Assessment Clinic. In terms of research, he specializes in the areas of mental health and child welfare, relationship development, group work practice, treatment interventions and service utilization. Professor Ortega has presented and written extensively on these topics with a special focus on diversity and multiculturalism in research and practice. He has published specifically in the areas of mutual aid, group work practice, multicultural issues in research, child welfare permanency planning and family preservation. He was the principal investigator of the first national study of Latinos and child welfare, and co- researcher with Lorraine Gutierrez on the international study of Latino child well-being. He is currently involved in several national research projects and organizations focusing on child welfare, adoption and child well-being issues.

Robert M. Ortega, Associate Professor of Social Work

Email

rmortega@umich.edu

Location

Room:	2796 SSWB
Phone:	(734) 763-6576
Fax:	(734) 763-3372

University of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 S. University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Selected Publications

Ortega, R. & Faller, K. C. (2012). Training child welfare workers from an intersectional cultural humility perspective: A paradigm shift. Chld Welfare, 90(5), 27-50.

Faller, K. C., Grabarek, M., & Ortega, R. M. (2010). Commitment to child welfare work: What predicts leaving and staying? Children and Youth Services Review, 32, 840-846.

Ortega, R. M., Grogan-Kaylor, A., Ruffolo, M., Clarke, J. & Karb, R. (2010). Racial and ethnic diversity in the initial child welfare experience. In M. B. Webb, K. Dowd, B. J. Harden, J. Landsverk, & M. F. Testa (Eds.), Child welfare and child well-being; New perspectives from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being. New York: Oxford University Press.

Reed, B. G., Ortega, M., & Garvin, C. (2010). Small group theory and social work practice: Promoting diversity and social justice or recreating inequities? In R. Greene & N. Kropf (Eds.), Human behavior theory and social work practice: A diversity framework. N Y: Aldine de Gruyter.

Gonzalez, R. P., Faller, K. C., Ortega, R. M., & Tropman, J. (2009). Exit interviews with departed child welfare workers: Preliminary findings. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 3(1), 40-63.

Ruffolo, M., Grogan-Kaylor, A. Ortega, R. M., & Clarke, J. (2008). Behaviors of youth involved in the child welfare system. Child Abuse and Neglect, 32(1), 35-49.

Hutchins, C., Ortega, R. M., & Quintanilla, M. (2008). Nuestra familia, nuestra cultura: Promoting and supporting Latino families in adoption and foster care. AdoptUSKids Program, Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Jayaratne, S., Faller, K., Ortega, R., & Vandervort, F. (2008). African American and white child welfare workers' attitudes towards policies involving race and sexual orientation. Children and Youth Services Review, 30(8), 955-966.