Beatris “Betty” Ortiz-Drace ’15 MSW, a current student in the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Human Rights Leadership program, was recently appointed to the Steering Committee of Human Rights Education USA. Ortiz-Drace has worked in child welfare for 22 years as an investigator, investigative supervisor, and training supervisor to Youth Leadership Manager with the Office of Family Voice.
According to Interim DSW Program Director Anne Deepak, Ortiz-Drace has successfully defended her capstone proposal and is preparing to deliver and evaluate the training she developed for child welfare professionals grounded in anti-racism and human rights. The primary objective of her research is to address the disproportionate representation of African American children in foster care and BIPOC families in the child welfare system.
“As a seasoned trainer and educator who integrates human rights into her teaching and training, she is a perfect fit for the Human Rights Education USA Steering Committee,” Deepak said. The mission of the organization is to grow a network dedicated to building a culture of human rights by providing an innovative forum for HRE practitioners and supporters to learn, network, and exchange professional expertise and better serve the HRE community, Deepak added.