Robert M. Ortega

Robert M. Ortega is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, focusing on child welfare, juvenile justice, and serious mental illness research. His work emphasizes cultural humility, social justice, and family cohesion in preventing and treating child maltreatment.

Research interests include:

• Development of culturally responsive child welfare practices
• Group work interventions for vulnerable youth
• Assessment of youth with problematic sexual behaviors
• Training child welfare supervisors

Scientific recognition:

• Recipient of CSWE Distinguished Contributions to Social Work Education
• Honored with APSAC Cultural Competency Advancement Award
• University of Michigan SSW Distinguished Faculty Award

Active in editorial and policy advisory roles, Ortega contributes to national child welfare discourse while teaching courses on forensic interviewing and group practice methodologies.