Staff
Kate McLean, Executive Director
As Executive Director of Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), Kate leads the organization in increasing CCAI’s visibility and impact among members of the adoption, foster care, and greater child welfare community; strengthening and diversifying the organization's funding sources; and maintaining the strong relationship that exists between CCAI and Members of Congress. Now in her seventh year, Kate is committed to continue supporting the caucus and CCAI community to identify and remove barriers for vulnerable children and families.
In her previous role as CCAI's Director of Programs, Kate managed the organization's outreach, development, and programming in the implementation of CCAI's core programs and annual projects including the Foster Youth Internship Program®, Angels in Adoption®, and National Adoption Day. Kate was first a CCAI Programs Intern and then Policy & Programs Associate before becoming Director of Programs and most recently Managing Director.
Originally from New York, Kate has been a District of Columbia resident for more than ten years. Kate enjoys volunteering with CASA for Children of DC and has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate since 2019. Kate holds a bachelor's degree in international affairs with a concentration in conflict resolution from The George Washington University. In 2023, Kate received an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University with an emphasis on strategic fundraising and financial stewardship.
Toria Parsons, Policy Director
Toria Parsons is the Policy Director of Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. In this role, she implements CCAI’s government relations and congressional educational strategy to facilitate and expand CCAI’s impact among federal policymakers and the child welfare communities. She is responsible for researching, coordinating, and executing elements of the Congressional Resource Program and 20/20 Vision Program delegation activities. She supports and engages in congressional outreach to advocate for each child’s basic right to a permanent family.
As a trained social worker, Toria spent five years working with families adopting children from the countries of India, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Poland. From pre-adoption to post-placement and post-adoption, Toria worked with over 150 families during her tenure at the international adoption agency. She has a wide range of experience advocating for vulnerable populations such as refugees, children with special needs, and children in the child welfare system. She spent the year of 2022 advocating for clients and constituents on Capitol Hill.
Originally from Louisiana, Toria received both a Bachelor and Master of Social Work from The University of Alabama. She also holds a Master in Teaching English as a Second Language from Columbia International University. Toria is passionate about the work that CCAI does throughout all of its programs.
Lisette DuFore Benz, Programs Coordinator
As Programs Coordinator, Lisette manages two of CCAI's annual core programs, Angels in Adoption® and the Foster Youth Internship Program®. In this role, she works closely with the Executive Director and collaborates with other team members to ensure the operational success of these programs. Lisette is responsible for the planning, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation of these initiatives, which also includes overseeing events in each program to engage the U.S. Congress, partners, donors, and the child welfare community.
Lisette has been deeply involved with CCAI since serving as a Development and Communications Intern for two consecutive semesters and later transitioning into a full-time role where she worked as Associate, providing equal support to all departments within the organization, including programming, policy, and development. Prior to joining CCAI, she worked in the private sector where she gained experience in project management and event planning - skills she now applies to her work in the nonprofit space.
Lisette graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in technical theatre from Binghamton University and recently earned her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management from American University in Washington, D.C. As a Korean American adoptee, Lisette understands firsthand the transformative power of adoption and the importance of permanency. Her lived experience gives her a unique perspective in her work at CCAI and fuels her commitment to ensuring that every child's right to a permanent, safe, and nurturing family is realized.
