Dr. Vélez Ortiz, M.S.W., Ph.D., is an assistant professor with a joint appointment in the School of Social Work and the Julian Samora Research Institute. He is from Puerto Rico and has been in the Midwest, specifically Indiana and Illinois, throughout his higher education. His areas of research are in Latino older adults, mental health services, community service integration, and organizational factors relating to service delivery. His long-term work aims to integrate community mental health literacy and services into community spaces where older adults, particularly Latino groups, naturally gather. He would like to develop a link between disconnected systems of care using technology and other available resources. Dr. Vélez Ortiz has deep commitment to an applied focus in his research, where he has advanced knowledge with an emphasis on improving the lives of Latinos and other minorities across different age groups. He is also active in outreach and leadership. For instance, he collaborates with the State of Michigan Office of Services to the Aging. He enjoys opportunities to serve and present research or educational workshops.
Recent Publications
Horner, P., Hughes, A., & Vélez Ortiz, D. (2016). Social work scholars and undergraduate research opportunities. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 3(20), 216-230.
Horner, P., Martinez, R., Vélez Ortiz, D., Kayitsinga, J., Acosta, S. (in press) Adapting a nutrition education intervention for Latinos. Journal of Education and Human Development.
Vélez Ortiz, D., Martinez, R. O., & Espino, D. V. (in press). Framing effects of questions on end-of-life decisions among Latino older adults. Social Work in Health Care.
Horner, P., Martinez, R., Vélez Ortiz, D., Kayitsinga, J., & Acosta, S. (2015, December). Adapting a nutrition education intervention for Latinos. Journal of Education and Human Development, 4(4), 84-90. doi: 10.15640/jehd.v4n4a11
Martinez, R., Kayitsinga, J., Horner P. & Vélez Ortiz, D. (2015). Latinos 2025: A needs assessment of Latino communities in southeast Michigan. The Julian Samora Research Institute.
Recent Presentations
-
(June 2015)
Latino civic engagement
Vélez Ortiz, D.
Presented at the Cambio de Colores Conference, University of Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
-
(March 2015)
Culture, gender, and depression: Puerto Rican older adults’ experiences with depression
Vélez Ortiz, D.
Presented at the UAB Health Disparities Symposium
Birmingham, Alabama
-
(January 2014)
Latino/Hispanic Family Caregivers II
Vélez Ortiz, D.
Cultural competency training series for the Savvy Cargiver Program, Office of Services to the Aging, State of Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
