Each year at the "Let's Talk Adoption"^sm Conference, CPFA presents a scholarship to a student who is pursuing a degree in Social Work. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 conference was cancelled; however, the CPFA board unanimously agreed to present the 2020 scholarship.

The winner of the 2020 Lynne Witkin/CPFA Scholarship is Melissa Santana. Melissa is a BSW student at Georgian Court University who will be graduating in August 2020. She intends to obtain an MSW concentrating on Law and Social Work, with the goal of becoming an LCSW. Melissa was a foster parent prior to becoming a social work student; she experienced the child welfare process from beginning to end from a foster parent's perspective. After 11 years, Melissa was able to adopt her foster daughter. In her own words she looks "forward to being part of the solution in making a reality the pursuit of the advancement and implementation of laws and policies which uphold and secure the protection, education and health, and when needed, the adoption of children in our state."  

The CPFA board members and conference committee congratulate Melissa Santana on receiving the Lynn Witkin scholarship!