Advocate Impact: Sandra Damrow
May Story of Hope
Written By: Courtney Turner, Sandra's Advocate Supervisor
The Department became involved with Zoe, Blue, Mia, and Jeremiah September 17, 2017 due to Physical Abuse and Neglectful Supervision. The children were living with their mother and her paramour who were in a domestic violence relationship at the time. When the children felt safe, they made outcries of physical abuse by their mother, sexual abuse by a past paramour of the mother and additional accounts of neglect became known. CASA was appointed to the case in October 2017 to all four children, during which time; the children were in two separate placements.
Ms. Sandra Damrow has been an advocate for four years and consistently goes above and beyond in her advocacy. She ensures the children’s educational needs; therapeutic needs and social needs are met. I am not sure how she does it, but she exceeds all expectations, to include but not limited to, maintaining contact with the childrens’ caregivers almost weekly, arranging sibling visits monthly, uploading school reports, etc. Her efforts show not only through her comprehensive documentation but also through the way the family, associated parties and the Department respond to her. When the eldest child was hospitalized and removed from her sisters and paternal grandparents, Ms. Sandra made the trip monthly to visit her so she would not feel alone. She realized the importance of being a constant in her life and standing by her in that difficult time.
I am not sure how she does it, but she exceeds all expectations, to include but not limited to, maintaining contact with the childrens’ caregivers almost weekly, arranging sibling visits monthly, uploading school reports, etc.
I have had the pleasure of being the lucky recipient, Advocate Supervisor, of Ms. Damrow and have seen the impacts she has made. In February 2019, this case went to Mediation in hopes of reaching an agreement or, at a minimum, narrowing the scope of issues to secure permanency for the children. No agreement was reached thus resulting in a three-day court trial.
I recall Ms. Sandra voicing her nervousness to me, but I assured her ‘you got this’ because I knew she was prepared and would be an asset to the case.
Had she not been a fearless advocate and made the efforts to contact all parents monthly she would not have had grounds to testify to certain things that she had personally observed or heard. Had she not seen her children consistently and spent quality time she could not assess the growth and change in all of them. I felt very proud to see her pull out dates, formulate objective responses and earn the respect of everyone in the room. This case was concluded in the favor of DFPS, the paternal relatives, biological father of Jeremiah, and CASA by The Honorable Judge Salinas.
Jeremiah has been placed approximately six months in a safe and loving home with his father. The children have sibling visits twice a month to include sleep overs at least one weekend a month. The girls have found permanency with their paternal grandparents and are doing well. They have a chance to finally become children and have ceased parentified roles. Their grades have improved, they participate in extracurricular activities and are becoming better day by day. Its moments as such that assure me of the hope that lies when a seed of love is planted.
In November 2025, Child Protective Services received a referral involving two sisters, ages 13 and 14, who were found caring for themselves. Following the death of their father, the girls experienced ongoing abuse and neglect. They were living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, frequently left alone without adequate food, functioning plumbing, or consistent supervision, and were exposed to strangers regularly coming in and out of the home. Shortly after removal, Tameka Woolfolk was appointed as the Advocate on the case. From the very beginning, Tameka became one of the few consistent and reliable adults in the girls’ lives. The children experienced and continue to endure placement changes. These frequent transitions created ongoing instability and further complicated the girls’ ability to heal and adjust. Throughout each move, Tameka remained steadily involved, working diligently to ensure that the children’s services and support continued without interruption. She supports the girls not only emotionally, but physically as well helping pack their belongings at each move, accompanying them during school tours, and remaining readily available whenever they need support. Neither child was initially aware that they had the right to speak directly with the judge. Tameka recognized the importance of their voices being heard and with the support of the Ad Litem, helped to facilitate their presence at court, requesting that the judge meet with the girls in a breakout room, so they could personally express their wishes, all with the department, CASA and the Ad Litem by their side. In addition, this case was referred to Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE). During CASA’s ongoing exploration for family connections alongside the Department, Tameka discovered the children’s father’s obituary. Through this discovery, it was learned that the girls’ father had served in the United States Army as a combat medic during the Vietnam War and later worked for 30 years in civil service. Tameka took the initiative to request documentation, including VA records and a death certificate, to determine whether the children might be eligible for survivor benefits. The obituary also revealed that the girls are two of fourteen siblings. While many of the siblings were unable to provide support, CASA and the Department were able to establish contact with one brother. Through Tameka’s strong collaborative relationship with the Department and the Attorney Ad Litem, a thoughtful and appropriate plan was developed to allow the girls to begin visits with their brother, his wife, and their cousins. Although this story is still unfolding, both girls know one unwavering belief, that no matter what comes next, they know that Miss Tameka will continue to stand beside them every step of the way.
Lauren Lynes-Martinez
