| Panelists: Nicole Pace, LCSW Nicole is the ConnectiKIN (CKin) Program Director at Family and Children’s Aid where she has been employed for over 10 years holding various positions. Nicole earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Western New England College, (now Western New England University) and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Springfield College. Nicole has worked in the field of Child Welfare just shy of 20 years. Her first 10 years were spent working in child protective services in New Jersey and Massachusetts. The past 10 years have been dedicated to working directly with Kinship Caregivers both in the field and as a supervisor. In 2022, Nicole and her husband became Foster Parents through the Department of Children and Families. They adopted their now 2 year old son who is the light of their lives. Nicole is passionate about the work she does and hopes to continue to work in this field for many years to come.
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Margaret M. Doherty, Executive Director of Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Famililes, Inc. (“CAFAF”) Margaret has been the Executive Director of Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Famililes, Inc. (“CAFAF”) since mid-December 2012. Since her appointment, Margaret has steered CAFAF through a re-organization while maintaining its core services of providing support, training advocacy, recruitment and retention for foster, adoptive and relative caregivers statewide. Margaret’s educational background includes: Bachelor of Arts, Social Work, Master of Non-Profit Business Administration and Judicial Doctorate Margaret began her non-profit work as a Long Term Care Ombudsman in California for 12 years as a resource funded through the Older American’s Act. She advocated for nursing home and residential- care home residents and worked with provider groups while consistently advocating for the needs and wishes of the residents. While in graduate school, Margaret became a foster parent and then adopted her wonderful son. Afterwards, she went to law school and practiced law in Connecticut before being hired by CAFAF. Margaret’s vision for CAFAF is to continue providing its core services and to expand services and advocacy for post-adoption and relative-care families. She has been traveling throughout the state learning the needs of families and seeking suggestions for additional ways in which CAFAF can assist caregivers. Feel free to drop her a line at: margaret.doherty@cafafct.org.
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