We asked Carla Castro-Claure, our Americorps Program Lead, a few questions to get to know her better.

Tell us about the FAPAC Mentoring Program.

The FAPAC mentoring program is a program created to help pair experienced foster parents with new foster parents. The goal is to provide a safe environment where new foster parents can vent, ask questions without judgment, be informed of programs and resources, and ultimately find a community of foster parents who were once in their place and understand what they are going through. Being a foster parent comes with its own set of challenges. Through the FAPAC Mentoring Program, we hope to ultimately create a community of prepared resource parents and build a stronger and more knowledgeable community of caregivers. 

What do you enjoy most about leading this program?

I was adopted by my maternal grandmother when I was 10. I am very passionate about the program because there are so many things we struggled with in our household and so many moments my grandmother felt alone. If she had someone she could  call for advice it would have made a world of difference. I went through minimal trauma in my kinship experience compared to a lot of these children. I hope that fortifying this program will ultimately help the children in foster care by giving them an educated and prepared caregiver. Foster parents who are new to fostering are unaware of all the resources available to them and their placements. If we bring in real life experience, it will prepare them to provide everything they need for the children under their care. It really does take a village to raise a child— building a village is exactly what we are hoping to do with this program.

What work were you involved in prior to joining FAPAC? 

I have a medical background. I currently have an associates in human biology and a bachelors as a certified surgical technician. I specialize in general and plastic surgery. I love medicine. It is my passion. I am currently still in school. 

What brought you to FAPAC, and what is something you’ve learned so far during your time here?

I am a mother of two to a seven-year-old little girl and a five-year-old son. My son is autistic and requires a lot more individual attention. I was looking for opportunities that allowed me to work from home and be more available for my children, which FAPAC provides. I am also able to focus on school while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I have never worked for a nonprofit, so this world is new to me. I have learned so much about nonprofits in general and how to build and manage a program. I have truly enjoyed learning about all the moving parts that keep nonprofits and programs going.