Robert M. Ortega

Associate Professor Robert Ortega’s research interests are in the areas of relationship development, group work practice, treatment interventions and service utilization particularly in the areas of mental health and child welfare. Ortega has published on these topics with a special focus on child maltreatment prevention and intervention, child welfare assessment and treatment, diversity and social justice in research and group work practice. He has presented at national and international professional conferences focusing on socially just practice in group work, child protection and school responses, assessing fathers, family reunification and culturally responsive child welfare practice. He has expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods and is currently working on projects related to assessment and treatment of youth with problematic sexual behaviors, family reunification, training child welfare managers and supervisors, and culturally responsive comprehensive child maltreatment assessments and treatment. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Contributions to Social Work Education awarded by the Council on Social Work Education, Outstanding Service and Advancement of Cultural Competency in Child Maltreatment Prevention and Intervention Award, awarded by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), and is a receipient of the SSW Distinguished Faculty Award. Ortega serves on multiple university, professional, human service and community organizations.