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 December 2024, CPS received a referral reporting that Demitri and Maria were living under a bridge along with their three children, Santiago, Mary, and Jose. The Department sought removal of the siblings due to numerous concerns including substance use by all members of the family unit, unsanitary living conditions, malnourishment, and other safety risks. It was later discovered that the children had a significant gap in their education and medical care, and that the two oldest children had juvenile justice involvement. The parents also had an extensive history with CPS. A few months after removal, CASA Advocates, Alejandro Trevino and Lauren Wise, were appointed to the case, quickly becoming a consistent and trusted presence in the lives of the Santiago (16), Mary (15), and Jose (13). During their first meeting, the siblings expressed a deep desire to stay together and eventually reunite with their parents, emphasizing that they had always been together as a family. Unfortunately, shortly after that initial encounter, Santiago and Mary were placed in a Residential Treatment Center (RTC) located hours away from Jose. Multiple placement changes followed, creating ongoing instability that further complicated their healing process. From the beginning, the CASA Advocates have worked tirelessly to ensure that the children’s services remain uninterrupted despite the frequent transitions. They continue to collaborate with CPS, the children’s attorney ad litem, and various placements to ensure the siblings’ voices are heard and their best interests prioritized. Alejandro and Lauren attend every staffing, court hearing, service plan meeting, and Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) meeting while always advocating for stability, connection, and permanency. Understanding the critical importance of sibling relationships, the advocates made it their mission to preserve the children’s bond. They arranged for regular sibling contact, both virtually and in-person, overcoming logistical challenges caused by distance and restrictive placement protocols. At one point, Alejandro and Lauren personally facilitated a sibling visit, traveling a total of 638 miles to ensure the children could spend the time together. It was a powerful act of care, giving the siblings a moment of normalcy and joy in an otherwise turbulent time. For nearly the entirety of the case, the children have been separated from one another and far from their hometown. In the face of prolonged separation, instability, and emotional distress, Alejandro and Lauren’s efforts have played a key role in preserving the siblings’ emotional connection and sense of family. Because of their unwavering commitment, the siblings are now living in the same city again and are showing improvement in their academics and health. While the future remains uncertain and family reunification is still unclear, the advocates continue to hold hope that the siblings can at least be reunited with one another and return to San Antonio. This story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of tremendous challenges, the love between siblings and the dedication of caring advocates can foster hope, healing, and the promise of a brighter future.
Deborah Hom
