November 9, 2023 CCA Conference with Dr. Laura Langston on “New Perspectives on Development Trauma in Adoption and Foster Care”
Congratulations to the 2023 CCA Annual Award Recipient: Debra Candelora and Kimberly Innes
2023 CCA Award Nominees
Nomination Submission for Kim Innes….
As a QPI Champion over the years I've grown such a level of respect for this Social Worker. I didn't even realize what was happening at the time. Kim was our ACR facilitator. She encouraged such a strong relationship between birth mom and myself. The plan was reunification but that couldn't happen due to a court decision made. As a result of Kim's great work, mom asked me to please adopt her children. We had lots of support thru agencies as well but Kim was a QPI champion before we had the title. Permanency looks different to many and our story has blessed our lives as a result of the genuine relationship building from the start.
Kim’s Words of Nomination…..
I started my career at DCF 30 years ago. I've worked in several areas at the Department. I am currently a supervisor in the Quality Assurance Division at Central Office. For me permanency begins at the moment we have contact with a child. Permanency can mean different things to different children. After a removal from their birth family a key component to timely permanency is identifying a family who can take the journey with a child. A family who can honor their history and maintain connections with all the people who have loved them. My greatest joy is seeing relationships develop and evolve between a child and their forever family. My respect and admiration for our Adoptive families is immense as they are the ones who strive everyday to heal the wounds of the past and to find ways to move forward to a brighter future. After many years of licensing and matching children to Adoptive Families, I have gained an understanding that DCF could not function without the commitment of these families who partner with us every day.
Nomination Submission for Deb Candelora…..
Debra Candelora and her husband Sal have 11 children and 10 grandchildren. They adopted 7of their children and took guardianship of another child. Deb is so humble about her life’s work. She seems to clearly embrace in all ways what CCA is about both personally and professionally. Deb has worked with CAFAF for the last 13 years supporting families, working with DCF and has also joined the Board of CCA as the secretary. Deb’s whole life centers around adoption and helping others. She is a QPI Champion, Cochair on Caregivers Statewide Advisory Council to the Commissioner and Tri chair to Region 6 QPI Steering Committee. She does all this to improve communication, relationships and help families to be heard and respected. I would fully support Deb Candelora in receiving the Annual CCA Award!
Deb’s Words of Nomination…..
Meriden office held my License - first sibling group came from Meriden and second from New Britain. How long have you been doing this crazy stuff both parenting and CAFAF: We became licensed in 2008. I was a Program Director for the Daycare I used for the kiddos for 10 years leading up to my decision to work for CAFAF. I actually stumbled across the position looking for directions to our Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner. While at the dinner I introduced myself to Diane and the Director at that time and said now they can put a face to the application. I was called the next day. I remember thinking I really didn't want to leave the daycare and wondered why I even applied LOL I ended up working part time for both and then CAFAF opened up to fulltime and by then I was very passionate about the work. I still sit on the Board of Directors for that Daycare. The relationships I built over the years have become some of my biggest supports for this journey. And anything else you want to be said: We started this journey to Foster with no intentions of enlarging our family other than keeping connections when children reunified. We have learned a lot and I am very inspired to continue to work for more resources for families once closed. The supports are needed in so many ways. I also have some pretty strong opinions about DCF not licensing families who come to Adopt and to leave that to private agencies. While adoptions happen thru foster care it should only happen when family is not the option. But that's between us and MANY others I work with within the DEPT LOL Families who have a heart to adopt can make reunification challenging.
Learn more about a FREE Adoption Competency training w/ CEU's!
If your agency or practice is interested in participating in the training, contact Susan Myers, President of the Connecticut Council on Adoption at SMyers@fcagency.org, Robin Knight at rknight04@snet.net or Devon Miles at dmiles@fcagency.org, the Practice Chairs at CCA to learn more about the Council’s effort to disseminate this educational opportunity to organizations in Connecticut.
UPDATE ON OBTAINING BIRTH CERTIFICATES FOR ADULT ADOPTEES BORN IN CONNECTICUT!
As of Thursday July 1, 2021, all adult adoptees now have the right to request their original birth certificate . CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE REQUEST FORM NEEDED!
The Connecticut Council on Adoption is thrilled for CT adoptees and so grateful to the tireless, dedicated folks at AccessConnecticut !
A Note Following Our June Training
CCA wishes to express our gratitude to Mary Harris-Miller, LCSW, and to Rachel Forbes, LCSW for their enlightening and inspiring June 18th training on "Continuing the Conversation: Becoming An Advocate for Asian and Black Transracial Adoptee Justice". Participants commented that they "Loved that Mary and Rachel provided both the macro and micro lens" and the training made them "More confident to encourage families to have those difficult conversations" and was an "Excellent discussion on the impact of racism on adoptees, adoptive families and policy ". CCA also extends a sincere thank you to Desiree Stephens, Vice-President, of AccessConnecticut , for her presentation on the recent passage of CT Public Act 21-21 (click here to view) allowing CT Born Adoptees to obtain a copy of their Original Birth Certificate.
Congratulations to 2020 CCA Annual Award Recipient: Sandra M. Fine, LCSW!
CCA is very pleased to be presenting the 2020 CCA Annual Award to Sandra M. Fine, LCSW!
Many of you may have worked with Sandra during her almost 30 years of adoption service in CT and she along with her staff have almost single-handedly covered the majority of the private agency adoptions for Southeastern CT during that period. Sandra is being recognized by CCA for her lifelong commitment to the field of adoption, her ethical and collaborative spirit, and for the positive and immeasurable difference that her work has made in the lives of hundreds of children and their families in achieving permanency!
After graduating from Wellesley College in 1987 and then onto Simmons College for her MSW, Sandra became the Adoption Program Coordinator at Catholic Charities in Norwich from 1991 to 1998. She then joined CARA/CT Adoption & Family Services in New London in 1998 and became their Clinical and later Executive Director in 2005. Sandra supervised and trained a team of social workers and expanded the agency to provide services to all members of the adoption triad for domestic, interstate and international adoptions. She also developed a program to service children in CT DCF foster care in need of permanency. In 2013, Sandra started the adoption program at Waterford Country School where she remained until the program closed in 2019 when she became the CT Site Director for Alliance for Children in Norwich.
In addition to her various agency directorship positions, Sandra also took a leadership role in the CT Collaboration of Private Adoption Agencies and with CCA, most recently serving as Vice-President and as CCA’s Liaison with the CT Probate Court. She was instrumental in advocating for long overdue changes to CT’s Identified Adoption Regulations and chaired a CCA workgroup with DCF. Thanks to Sandra’s persistence, we are now closer to seeing that happen so stay tuned! In 2019, Sandra was honored with an Angels in Adoption National Award.
While Sandra is now winding down her adoption work at Alliance for Children, CCA wishes her the very best as she embarks on a new career as a school-based health center therapist in New London. As we know, sometimes our schools have been a difficult place for our adopted and foster children and their families. CCA is most confident that Sandra’s adoption and clinical competencies matched by her compassion will certainly be a tremendous asset for these students, their families and other school providers. Congratulations Sandra!!!!
CCA Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Treasurer's Report
July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
SUMMARY
Starting Balance July 1, 2019 11,630.84
Total Debit/Withdrawals 10,174.66
Total Credit/Deposits 10,296.26
Ending Balance June 30, 2020 11,752.44
Key: (EP)= Electronic Payment
(ET)=Electronic Transfer
(Chk)=Checks
7/31/19 Beginning Balance 11,630.84 Credit 500.00(Dep) Ending Balance 12,032.63
Debit 98.21(Chk)
8/31/19 Beginning Balance 12,032.63 Credit 125.00(Dep) Ending Balance 12,157.63
9/30/19 Beginning Balance 12,157.63 Credit 67.37(EP) Ending Balance 11,625.00
Debit 600.00(Chk)
10/31/19 Beginning Balance 11,625.00 Credit 3,731.31.(Dep) Ending Balance 14,575.77
Debit 780.54(Chk)
11/30/19 Beginning Balance 14,575.77 Credit 2,947.58 Ending Balance 11,463.42
Debit 6,019.12(Chk)
Debit 40.81(EP)
12/31/19 Beginning Balance 11,463.42 Credit 45.00 Ending Balance 9,430.97
Debit 2,077.45
1/31/20 Beginning Balance 9,430.97 Credit 2,830.00(Dep) Ending Balance 12,035.97
Debit 25.00(Chk)
Debit 200.00(EP)
2/29/20 Beginning Balance 12,035.97 Credit -0- Ending Balance 12,035.97
Debit -0-
3/31/20 Beginning Balance 12,035.97 Credit 50.00 Ending Balance 12,045.97
Debit 40.00
4/30/20 Beginning Balance 12,045.97 Credit-0- Ending Balance 12,045.97
Debit -0-
5/31/20 Beginning Balance 12,045.97 Credit -0- Ending Balance 12,045.97
Debit-0-
6/30/20 Beginning Balance 12,045.97 Credit -0- Ending Balance 11,752.44
Debit 134.00(chk)
Debit 159.53(EP)
Submitted by: Cathy Gentile-Doyle LCSW, Treasurer November 13, 2020
A Message Re: CCA Membership Extension
Dear Friends:
I hope this message finds you all safe and well. As you may know already, the CCA Annual Luncheon was canceled this year due to the Covid-19 crisis. We look forward to seeing you all next year at this event. Typically, annual membership renewals are due in June . However, we realize this year is challenging for everyone and have decided to extend everyone’s membership until December 2020.
The Connecticut Council on Adoption continue to meet virtually every month to discuss upcoming events and trainings but more importantly the concerns of the greater adoption community.
We are looking forward to holding our November training in person or via virtual means. The CCA will follow all safety guidelines and utilize them when planning future events.
Please contact us at info@ctadopt.org with any ideas you have for future trainings, questions or concerns about adoption. We love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Rachael Kriedel
Membership Chairperson
Connecticut Council on Adoption Conference
November 15, 2019 CCA Conference with Dr. Amanda Baden on “Navigating the Intersectionality of Race, Culture and Adoption”
Connecticut Council on Adoption Conference
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING US CITIZENSHIP OF CHILDREN ADOPTED BY AMERICAN CITIZENS!
Since many adoptive families have raised questions about their foreign-born child’s US citizenship, and there is confusion over how citizenship is acquired by adopted children, CT Council on Adoption believes it is important to share this clarifying information.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 provides for “automatic” acquisition of US citizenship to many foreign born adopted children provided that certain qualifications are met:
At least one parent of the child is a US citizen;
The child is under the age of 18 years upon entering the US or was under 18 at the time of the date the law went into effect (February 27, 2001);
The child is residing in the US in the legal and physical custody of the citizen parent and there has been a “final” adoption according to the laws of the birth country and US immigration.
If the adoption was full and final under the laws of the foreign country, the child is issued an IR3 visa to immigrate to the US. This visa classification will be stamped on the child’s original passport (from their country of origin). Children with IR 3 visas automatically are US citizens upon entry to the US, as long as the above qualifications were met.
If the adoption was not completed abroad or considered “final” due to the laws of the birth country or the fact that only one parent traveled to meet the child, the child entered the US on an IR 4 visa. This type of classification meant the adoption needed to be completed in the United States, so either a finalization or re-adoption must occur before the child can acquire US citizenship.
USCIS began sending out Certificates of Citizenship automatically to IR3 visa recipients in January 2004, free of cost. If your child entered the US before January 2004, you will have to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship (CoC). If your child entered on an IR4 visa, you will have to apply for a CoC after the readoption requirement is met. Please note that as above, adopted persons born overseas before February 1983 were not included in the CCA of 2000 and not eligible for automatic citizenship.These persons need to go through the Naturalization process and should contact an Immigration attorney.
All parents are strongly urged to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for their adopted child. Even if they were automatically deemed a US citizen, you must have “evidence” of it. The two types of evidence are a CoC and a US Passport. While some parents balk at the cost of a Certificate of Citizenship ($1170) there are some benefits to getting this versus a passport. The CoC 1.) never expires; 2.) is accepted as proof of citizenship universally and 3.) provides a government record that is accessible by all agencies and departments.
Finally, parents need to TALK to their child/teen/young adult and make sure they understand their citizenship status. You should mention that there may be times when their citizenship will be questioned by others. Show the CoC or Passport to your child so he or she KNOWS that you have proof of their status. Contact your local adoption agency for any questions or help with a citizenship issue! It’s so important!
Please see fact sheet with FAQ’s on applying for a Certificate of Citizenship for your child.
Also see:
We Are Gearing Up for Our Annual Training!
Progressing from Child Placement to Family Success
Adam Pertman & Allison Davis Maxon - National Center on Adoption and Permanency
Please click here to sign up on EventBrite!
Thursday, 11/1/18
8am-4pm
Fantasia
404 Washington Ave
North Haven, CT 06473
You can download a PDF flier and sign up by mail by clicking here.