About a year ago, my coworker Kate and I collaborated on a package of stories regarding the Willimantic branch of the Department of Children and Families. We learned the ins-and-outs of the system and the challenges the employees, children and families face during the foster and adopt process.

Our story about the dedicated social workers can be read here, and our story about one 15-year-old girl in the DCF system can be read here.

This week, the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists awarded us with a third-place “local reporting” award for our package. The Chronicle staff celebrated taking home a total of nine awards during the ceremony.