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.