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Robert M. Ortega

Associate Dean for Educational Programs and Associate Professor of Social Work

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. Dr. Ortega has presented and written on these topics with a special focus on diversity and social justice in research and practice. He has published in the areas of mutual aid, multicultural issues in group work, child welfare permanency planning, family preservation and culturally responsive child welfare practice. He is the principal investigator of the first national study of Latinos and child welfare. He has expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods and is currently working on projects related to increasing the pipeline for graduates from under-represented groups into research scientist professions, training child welfare managers and supervisors, and culturally responsive comprehensive child maltreatment assessments and treatment. He is the recipient of the 2013 Recent Distinguished Contributions to Social Work Education awarded by the national Council on Social Work Education. Dr. Ortega serves as consultant on several national research projects and organizations focusing on social work, child welfare and social justice issues.

Research Interests/Focus

Child welfare, juvenile justice, serious mental illness.

Education

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

U-M SSW PhD Psychology - Social Graduate - 1991

Dissertation Topic

Commitment in marriage: For better and for worse.

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