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.