Deborah Bass Rubenstein has dedicated more than five decades to social work, community engagement, and child welfare, excelling in her dual roles as an author and tutor. Her career began in 1973 when she started writing as an intern. Since then, she has authored several influential works, including “Caring Families: Supports and Interventions” and “Helping Vulnerable Youths: Runaway and Homeless Adolescents in the United States,” which have contributed significantly to the discourse on social welfare. Ms. Bass Rubenstein’s experience also includes various important roles, such as her service as assistant secretary of human development services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1991 to 2007, where she advocated for significant reforms that influenced academic institutions like Johns Hopkins University.
Ms. Bass Rubenstein served as a consultant for more than a decade and worked with the Child Protective Services Agency in Washington, D.C., where she advised on protective measures for vulnerable children. Her experience also includes contributions to research and policy development at Walter R. McDonald & Associates Inc. and tenure as a project director at the Development Services Group. Ms. Bass Rubenstein also held academic positions at Howard University and the Catholic University of America, teaching as an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Continuing Education and as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University. Laying an educational foundation, she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Reflecting on her path, Ms. Bass Rubenstein’s career is marked by a steadfast commitment to community service and social justice. In 1995, she co-founded Unity in the Community, a grassroots organization that grew to over 800 members, dedicated to addressing hate and discrimination across all demographic groups. She has also contributed to projects such as the Family Caregiving Project and participated in national initiatives, including President Jimmy Carter’s Domestic Policy Council.
Reflecting on her path, Ms. Bass Rubenstein’s experiences with adversity fueled her lifelong commitment to fostering equality and advocating for marginalized communities. Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades for her leadership and community service, including the Award for Community Service in the Area of Human Rights from the Prince William Human Rights Commission in 1997. She was also recognized by President Clinton for Unity in the Community’s best practices.
Outside of her professional life, Ms. Bass Rubenstein values time spent with family, including her husband and two sons. Looking to the future, she plans to continue her advocacy work through Unity in the Community and explore new writing projects on caregiving while spending quality time with her grandson.