Advocate Impact: Nancy
March CASA Advocate Spotlight
Written By: Nancy's Advocate Supervisor
Nancy has only been an Advocate since November 2018, but she has already made incredible impacts with her CASA kids. For her first CASA case, Nancy selected a PMC case with Harper (16) and Ella (15). Harper and Ella are in the permanent care of the state because of their mother’s substance abuse and their father’s sexual abuse of their 19-year-old half-sister. The girls are placed in separate residential treatment centers (RTC) because they don’t always get along well. Both girls are mothers and their babies live with them at their respective RTC. Harper has a 1-year-old son, Owen, and Ella has a 4-month-old daughter, Avery.
During the case opening, Nancy and her supervisor noted that the girls had a brother, Logan (14), but CPS was unsure who Logan’s caseworker was or where Logan had been placed. Eventually, the girls' attorney ad litem informed CASA that Logan has severe special needs and was in a placement in Houston that could accommodate those needs. Due to this, CASA was assigned just for Harper and Ella. Upon meeting Nancy, Harper and Ella told Nancy that they really missed their brother and wished they knew where he was and how he was doing. At a hearing in January, a co-worker of Logan’s caseworker finally gave CASA current information on Logan. He had been moved to a RTC in Flatonia, about 1-1/2 hours from San Antonio. Nancy eagerly agreed to advocate for Logan as well and Judge Montemayor was pleased to know that Nancy would advocate for Logan as well and that she would arrange a sibling visit. Less than one week later, Nancy brought both girls to see Logan; it had been 8 months since they had last seen each other.
Upon meeting Nancy, Harper and Ella told Nancy that they really missed their brother and wished they knew where he was and how he was doing... Less than one week later, Nancy brought both girls to see Logan; it had been 8 months since they had last seen each other.
Nancy has built such trusting relationships with the girls that they confide in her their hopes, wishes, and even the mistakes that they make. At Harper’s Circle of Support staffing last month, Nancy encouraged Harper to share her hopes for her future. Nancy knew that Harper and Ella both wanted to rebuild their relationships with their mother, but the girls had never told CPS about this goal. The girl’s mother came to the Circle of Support and with Nancy’s reassurance, Harper expressed that her dream is to eventually be able to live with her mother. Before our meeting ended, the caseworker approved their mother having supervised visits with both the girls and their mother agreed to work services. CPS and the mother are now working towards the goal of placing the girls with their mother. Harper expressed gratitude at having such an awesome Advocate in Nancy and even said that Nancy is like a grandmother to her.
In her short tenure as a CASA advocate, Nancy has made significant impacts in the lives of Harper, Ella, and Logan by facilitating sibling visits and helping the girls to advocate for themselves. Nancy is truly the voice for these children.
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
