What is your favorite part of the profession?
When asked about his favorite part of the profession, Dr. Rabeno expressed his appreciation for the versatility of the field. On his journey as a social worker, he had the opportunity to apply his skills to work in various fields including schools, substance abuse agencies, health clinics, private practices, and corporate consulting. Throughout his career, he has also grown to appreciate the harmony between his personal belief system and the values emphasized in social work. His passion to promote human rights is consistent with the values embodied by the NASW Code of Ethics, an aspect of social work that continues to strengthen his dedication to the profession.
How do you think your generation has impacted the profession?
Although his career did not begin in the 1960s, Dr. Rabeno views it as the pinnacle of advocacy and passion for human rights within the social work profession. Due to the foundations established during that period, his generation produced the leaders in legitimizing social work as a professional career. Those social workers transformed the field by providing direction and clarity to aspiring social workers. In his own words, “we showed it is not lip-service, there is action,” a powerful statement that summarizes how impactful he believes his generation of social workers were.