Janet Castro just naturally thought she would pursue a career in social work. After all, the West New York native and Memorial High School graduate went to Rutgers-Newark to study sociology and psychology. She then took a job with the state Division of Youth and Family Services as a social worker.
“But after a little while, it got very difficult for me,” said Castro, who has called North Bergen her home for the last three years. “It was very emotional, dealing with that on a daily basis.”
Last April, Castro just happened to have a related case with Rich Censullo, the director of the North Bergen Department of Health.
“We conferred on a case, and he asked me if I had any interest in becoming a health inspector,” Castro said. “I never gave it a thought before. I was a little skeptical, but as we talked about it, it became more interesting. It was so new and different. I was definitely interested.”
Censullo was asked what he saw in Castro to ask her to join the North Bergen Health Department.
“I thought she had the enthusiasm and the quest to help people,” Censullo said. “She had the personality needed and wanted everything in an orderly fashion. There was only one way with Janet, the right way. I thought that was very important. I thought she could handle it.”
So Censullo asked Castro to join the North Bergen Health Department and eventually work her way up to become the township’s first-ever female inspector and the first-ever Hispanic.
“I had some science credits from college, but I needed to take other courses,” Castro said.
So last May, Castro left DYFS to become an inspector-in-training in North Bergen. Her full-time hiring as a health inspector became contingent on her passing the state licensing exam and completing the required health-related college courses at Rutgers University’s Cook College last summer.
Finished requirements
Castro finished her requirements last month, and last week, she was officially sworn in as the first female health inspector in the township’s history. She also owns the distinction as the first inspector of Hispanic heritage.
The 32-year-old Castro said that she is honored by the distinction of being the first woman and first Hispanic. Castro is also the first female health inspector in northern New Jersey.
“I feel very proud,” Castro said. “It is very important. I feel like I’m part of the team now. I feel like I’m home.”
Castro’s main responsibility will be inspecting restaurant and food establishments to ensure that proper sanitation is being met. Her other duties include communicable disease investigation and other environmental assessments as needed. She will also handle public nuisance complaints, working with fellow inspector Frank DiBenedetto.
Castro said that it will be a benefit to the community that she can use her bilingual abilities.
“I think it definitely helps,” Castro said. “The Hispanic community won’t be as intimidated, dealing with someone who doesn’t understand their language. I will be able to help the community more. I want to send a message that we’re not here to close people down. We want to work together. It’s absolutely a challenge for me, but I intend to make it work. I don’t think there ever will be a dull day. I’ll always be doing something different.”
Censullo believes that Castro will do a fine job in her new position.
“I think she will use her skills to access the quality of the places that serve food,” Censullo said. “The general public doesn’t get a chance to walk around and examine these places. She’s now the eyes and the ears of the people. I know she’s very observant and she’s going to be very fair. She’s an educator, first and foremost. She’s going to be able to go over a list of violations and make sure with the owners and the managers the proper way to serve food.”
Added Censullo, “I think it’s going to be a very big plus for us. She clearly projects the confidence we need in the position. It’s not just about taking action. She would rather educate than litigate. She’s going to be a strong representative of the community. Since she is Hispanic, she will make it easier to explain the details.”
In the last whirlwind few months, Castro never could have imagined that she would go from a family social worker to a health inspector.
“Not in my wildest dreams,” Castro said. “I never thought it could happen.”