May is National Foster Care Awareness Month and our founding partner, Regina Calcaterra is raising awareness of the challenges faced by older foster children.  

On Monday, May 6, 2024, Regina will be discussing her foster care journey and aging out of the foster care system hosted by You Gotta Believe. 

Overcoming a childhood of abuse, neglect and abandonment in Suffolk County, Regina rose to serve in several high-profile public-sector roles including being appointed the first woman Chief Deputy County Executive of Suffolk County where she led the County through a fiscal crisis and the impact of Superstorm Sandy. At the onset of the Covid pandemic, she founded an award-winning woman-owned boutique law firm. Calcaterra Law PC practice areas include social justice, municipal representation, and complex federal and state litigation.

Regina has received numerous awards and honors in her legal career and advocacy efforts including being awarded the Suffolk County Civic Service Award and Medal issued by former Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (December 2023);  2020 Trailblazer Award by the National Law Journal;  New York’s Top Municipal, State and County Superlawyers (2020-present) by Superlawyers, Inc.; Champion of Civil Rights & Social Justice Award (City & State NY, 2018); Woman of Substance Award (Seton Hall Law School, 2018); and Lifetime Achievement Award (Primi-Dieci Society, Italy-American Chamber of Commerce, 2015).

Regina serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Suffolk County; as a board member for The Felix Organization, where she is co-spearheading the creation of Prokid, a wraparound organization and app for advocates and youth in foster care that provides a culture of care from birth to aging out; and as a member of the Board of Believers for You Gotta Believe, an organization that works towards permanency for older foster youth. Through You Gotta Believe Regina became a proud forever mom. 

Visit YouGottaBelieve.org to register and learn more about this event!