In a recent highlight by Seattle Human Services (HSD) focused on their employees, Senior Counselor Selena Ortiz shared details about her role with the HSD Aging and Disability Services Care Coordination Program and what motivates her to serve the community. Ortiz, who is embedded in Seattle Housing Authority buildings, expressed that her educational background in Psychology and prior experience in San Diego shaped her desire to "working right in the community and being an advocate to help navigate and access complicated government systems," according to an article from Seattle's Human Interests blog.
When moving to Washington State, it was Ortiz's passion for service that led her to her current position. The pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for the SHA residents she works with. Ortiz and her team were faced with the necessity to quickly adapt in order to "connect residents to technology and vital health care" amidst growing isolation, an endeavor crucial to their well-being as traditional support systems were to falter during the pandemic. She detailed the increased behavioral and medical health needs of residents during this time, showing an ongoing commitment to bridging service gaps, despite the challenging circumstances, Selena Ortiz told Human Interests.
The emphasis on racial equity also plays a significant role in Ortiz's work. As a Latina woman, she is actively engaged in HSD's objectives towards race and social justice. Her approach includes internal work to understand and undo her racial inferiority while leveraging her position to shift the dynamics of gatekeeping within her department. She focuses on creating collective change for both her department and the broader community, embracing the efforts that the City of Seattle and HSD have invested in through programs like Undoing Institutional Racism.
Ortiz finds motivation in the people around her and is fueled by her interactions in nature, the culinary arts, and music deeply rooted in her culture. For newcomers to HSD or recent graduates entering the field of social work, she offers a piece of advice to "getting to know people and their rich histories," which has been a source of joy and mutual impact throughout her career. It's evident that, for Ortiz, the rewards of social work far overshadow its challenges, a sentiment clearly communicated in her interview with Human Interests.
