The concepts of stakeholder involvement and humility may be foreign to many working in the behavioral health field. In this stakeholder annual report, Victor Ortiz, MSW, LADC I, CADC II, APGSA member and Problem Gambling Program Administrator for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) illustrates the process of establishing a strategic plan for problem gambling services that uses community-level interventions effectively to plan programming that originates and occurs in people’s social and physical environment. Utilizing community engagement, Victor emphasizes cultural humility, the idea that one must experience “a process of self-reflection and discovery in order to build honest and trustworthy relationships2 .” To ensure cultural humility, interventions must include input from the people they intend to benefit through a process of community involvement. Victor conducts stakeholder listening sessions annually to ensure that the community voice is centered in the Massachusetts problem gambling service delivery. That program has engaged over 1200 individuals along with over 40 community partners to ensure that their voices are heard.
Author Biography
Victor Ortiz is a social worker with over twenty-five years of experience in program and service development in areas of addiction, youth development, child welfare, and behavioral health. He has worked extensively with a wide range of populations to address health disparities and promote health and racial equity. Victor has served in various professional positions advocating for and improving access to care for individuals and families.
In 2009, Victor received a BSW from Anna Maria College. He was recognized for academic excellence while serving as a mentor to students seeking professional guidance. Victor received national scholarship recognition from the National Association of Social Workers and the Council on Social Work Education for his many years of advocacy in the Latinx community. In 2010, Victor received an MSW from Simmons College School of Social Work.
Victor is a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and educator in the areas of addiction, gambling disorders, and cultural intelligence and humility. Victor is currently the Director of the Office of Problem Gambling Services at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.