Advocate Impact: Linda Wilson
August Story of Hope
Written By: Linda's Advocate Supervisor
Mark age 9, had been removed from his Mom because of drug use and his Dad hadn’t been around in years. Before his removal, Mark and his Mom only spoke English in their home. After he was removed, Mark was placed with his Paternal Grandmother, who spoke very little English, so communication was a bit rocky in the beginning. This barrier also complicated his Grandmother’s understanding of the system and rules that came with being placement.
Linda noticed quickly that there could be a placement problem due to lack of communication and understanding between CPS and Mark's Grandmother. She was there to clarify any misunderstandings Grandma had, and even referred her to a new program called Grandparents raising Grandchildren, something that became an excellent resource for Grandma.
Linda also noted that Mark hadn’t experienced a lot of things most 9-year old’s have. He hadn’t really been to a park, gone swimming, visited a museum or even the library. She made it a point to take him out to show him a variety of new experiences. Mark’s favorite outing was going to Morgan’s Wonderland when CASA received tickets. Mark had a blast and has a newfound love with the water and swimming.
Linda spent her time on the case not only advocating for permanency, but she also helped to prevent placement breakdown by teaching Mark Spanish.
Throughout the case Mom would not consistently engage in services, which switched the focus from reunification with Mom to reunification with Dad. Dad had never really had a relationship with his son and combined with the fact that he only spoke Spanish it made it harder for Father and Son to bond initially. As a result, Linda spent her time on the case not only advocating for permanency, but she also helped to prevent placement breakdown by teaching Mark Spanish. This helped him feel confident in communicating his everyday needs to Grandma while his parents had the opportunity to focus on their services. The Spanish lessons also helped make him more comfortable with building a bond with his Father.
In the end the Mother was not able to complete her service plan and her rights were terminated. Mark was reunified with his Father and he is doing very well. Thankfully, Mark had Linda by his side to advocate for him the entire way. She made sure he was always with family and comfortable in his home. She also took him to the library to improve his reading skills and introduced him to things that he may have never experienced without his CASA. Linda went above and beyond to help Mark maintain a stable placement during his time in foster care. She also helped to bridge a communication gap to ensure that his story had a happy ending.
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Emily Benedict: Championing College Dreams for Youth in Care Emily Benedict has always believed deeply in the power of higher education and has a passion for making college access a reality—especially for youth in foster care. When she expressed interest in taking on a second CASA case, she was clear about her goal: she wanted to work with a youth on the college docket, helping them navigate the complex path toward applying to and enrolling in college. In August of last year, Emily was matched with a 16-year-old youth living at Connections in New Braunfels. The teen had spent several years in care, with her parents’ rights terminated and a previous kinship placement having broken down. Though she had two siblings, she was no longer in contact with them. From their first meeting, a strong connection grew between Emily and her youth—especially during a Clifton Strengths event hosted at CASA. As the school year kicked off, Emily quickly stepped in to advocate for her youth’s education. She connected with school counselors, began tracking her youth’s grades and attendance, and stepped up when she learned the teen was failing two classes due to a lack of access to technology. Emily secured a Chromebook and printer through CASA, ensuring her youth had the tools to succeed. With weekly check-ins, academic encouragement, and consistent support, her youth turned things around—eventually getting back on track to graduate a year early . Knowing college was the goal, Emily helped prepare her youth for the journey ahead. She shared opportunities for SAT prep, researched application deadlines, supported her through the FAFSA process, and made sure every college application was submitted on time. She also enrolled her in the PAL program, arranged campus tours, and even ensured she had the required immunizations for enrollment. Emily didn’t stop there—she helped her youth open a bank account and advocated tirelessly with the caseworker to get her into a driver’s ed program. Throughout the year, Emily also supported her youth emotionally. She helped her process complex feelings about being separated from her siblings and successfully facilitated a visit—opening the door to renewed phone and virtual contact. Just weeks before graduation, the youth’s placement at her residential facility fell through, and she began couch-surfing with friends. Emily didn’t miss a beat. She stayed in close contact with the youth’s support team—including her caseworker, attorney, and college docket facilitators—keeping everyone updated and focused on solutions. She explored housing options, called multiple facilities, and even reached out to colleges to see if the teen could move into a dorm early. Though dorms were restricted to 18+, Emily remained determined. She arranged a meeting between the teen and Judge Montemayor, who encouraged her to finish her final week of school and graduate—assuring her of continued support while placement was pending. Soon after, Emily discovered Lifeworks in Austin, a program offering housing, counseling, education, and workforce support. She helped secure a spot, drove her youth around town to collect belongings, and personally transported her on move-in day—returning the next day to check in. Emily proudly attended the teen’s graduation at the end of May. She is now helping her enroll in an online course for the fall semester, giving her a head start on college before she turns 18 in November and transitions into a Supervised Independent Living (SIL) dorm. Through every setback and success, Emily has remained a steady, empowering force—amplifying her youth’s voice, championing her goals, and proving the life-changing impact of one dedicated CASA volunteer.
Sherri Lee Boos
