CCA November 2025 Event + Annual Award Winner, Allyson Powell!
On November 7, 2025, the Connecticut Council on Adoption held its Annual Board Meeting at the Back Nine Tavern on Stanley Golf Course in New Britain. The President’s summary of this year’s CCA activities, along with the annual treasurer and committee reports were presented and a DCF update was provided by Lori Franceschini, DCF Program Supervisor.
Allyson Powell, who is an adoptive parent and the Program Director of the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) at UCONN Health Center was honored by CCA. She received our 2025 Annual Award for her many years of active leadership and commitment to supporting and advocating for adoptive families in CT.
Our featured guest speaker was adult adoptee Sana Cotten who presented “Unashamed: Breaking Cycles and Building Bridges - An Adoptees Guide to Emotional Health After Sexual Trauma.” Sana Cotten is the author of “Everyone Will Know It Was God” and founder of Unashamed, Inc. a non-profit organization in Middletown dedicated to support and guide transitioning foster youth and young adults towards overcoming shame. Ms. Cotten inspired the audience with her compelling adoption story; starting with early childhood trauma, foster care, adoption and adulthood where she confronted her struggles with grief and shame; insightfully citing experiences from her journey that helped her to grow and heal to become a whole person. We are very grateful to her for sharing both her tragedies and triumphs with us. We also appreciate the partnership with our co-sponsors DCF and AAP for the resources and funding they provided for this program.
CCA 2025 Annual Award recipient, Allyson Powell
Adoption Assistance Program (past and present) celebrating with CCA’s 2025 Annual Award recipient, Allyson Powell
Guest presenter, Sana Cotten of Unashamed
Guest presenter, Sana Cotten of Unashamed
Lori Franceschini providing an update from DCF
Attendees at CCA’s November training!