We asked Donna Flenory a few questions to get to know her better.
What inspired you to get involved with the foster care community?
I was invited to participate in a pilot program for highly-at-risk youth in foster care. The program was supposed to last six months and turned into ongoing fostering. The guidelines were one youth, one home and you could not work outside of the home– which was perfect for me. Fostering has taken me places I never thought I would go.
How long have you been involved with FAPAC?
I became involved with FAPAC in 2000– the year I began fostering and the year they gained their autonomy as an organization. I was somewhat of a groupie and hung out at the office a lot, so they put me to work. I would do whatever was helpful and was asked to join the board in 2007.
What do some of your responsibilities look like?
I roll up my sleeve and work wherever needed by FAPAC. My previous responsibilities included but were not limited to conducting the board meetings and communicating and partnering with sister agencies in the city. I represent FAPAC at the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect (MACCAN), as well as on other councils like the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and the Children’s Round Table.
What other work are you involved in outside of FAPAC?
I foster a male teenager, which fills a lot of time!
What makes FAPAC special to you?
The foster parents in DC need an advocate to hear their concerns and aggregate those that are showing a pattern. These issues are systemic in nature, so we present them to CFSA (Child and Family Services). When I first started out as a foster parent, I needed all the help I could get. FAPAC was there for me. They taught me what they knew and developed my skills as an advocate. Now, I help other parents.
