Advocate Spotlight: Cecilia Grainger
April Advocate Interview
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I have been a CASA advocate for exactly one year. In college, I had a professor who was a CASA advocate and she would talk about CASA and the impact they have on children in the foster care system. I also heard different stories from Carrie Bond, a friend from church, who was a CASA advocate at the time. However, I was in nursing school and didn’t have enough time to adequately devote to the children in a case. So, when I moved back to San Antonio after I graduated, I started looking into it. At the beginning of 2019, I was set on becoming an advocate. The more I looked into CASA, the more I desired to volunteer and have an impact in the lives of these sweet children, so I decided that it was time! I took classes in April and became an advocate. It has been such a great year! I just finished my first case and I am looking forward to taking on more.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
To me, the most rewarding aspect of being an advocate is knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of children who have been a part of unfortunate circumstances. When my two children from my first case saw me for our visits, they would get so excited, and they were only 1 and 2 years old. It was so fun to just play with them and get to love on them. You know you are doing a good job at being an advocate when one of your kiddos tells you “I love you” and gives you a great big hug at the end of each visit.
3. If you could offer words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
My words of encouragement to my fellow advocates would be this: love your children and make them feel special. No matter their age, they will love you back. You may only be making a difference for one child in your case, but it can be a world of difference to that child. You may be the only thing standing between them and a threatening situation. Also, I was initially worried about taking on a case with younger children because I wondered how difficult it would be to communicate with them. However, on our first visit, we were already the best of buds. Don’t be discouraged by the age of the child or their current circumstances. Instead, get onto their level and there will be no barriers.
Cecilia is also a registered nurse, and we want to give her a very special thank you for being part of the team of health heroes who are diligently serving our community during this time.
In September 2024, the department first became involved with a family of five following allegations of substance abuse and medical neglect concerning the mother. Child Protective Investigations (CPI) initially sought to keep the family together by implementing a safety plan with fictive kin—a family the mother and children had met during their stay at Haven for Hope. The hope was that this new placement would provide stability for the children while keeping them safely with someone familiar. For a few weeks, it seemed to be working. But on October 29, 2024, the mother told the fictive kin she was going to retrieve her remaining belongings from Haven for Hope—and never returned. From November 2024 through February 2025, CPS continued its efforts to locate her while supporting the kinship placement and meeting the children’s needs. In January 2025, the kinship placement informed the department that she could no longer care for the youngest child, Ava, due to her severe behavioral needs. Faced with these challenges, the department made the difficult decision to file for removal to provide more comprehensive support for the children and the kinship caregivers. Ava was quickly placed in a foster home in February 2025, while her three brothers remained with fictive kin. Around this time, CASA Staff Advocate JoAnn Herring was assigned to the case. By April 2025, safety concerns prompted the immediate removal of the boys. They were placed in an emergency shelter while the department and JoAnn worked tirelessly to explore placing them with their sister in her foster home. Caring for four children is a big ask, especially for new foster parents, but with support from JoAnn and the department, the foster family rose to the challenge. By May 2025, all four siblings were finally reunited under one roof—a first major victory for this family. Even with the siblings together, challenges remained. The children had significant medical and educational needs. Michael, who had experienced medical neglect while in his mother’s care, was diagnosed with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, requiring frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, and surgery. During these times, JoAnn visited the hospital regularly, offering support and encouragement to both Michael and his foster parents. JoAnn also worked closely with the department and foster family to ensure the other children—Ava, Mateo, and Leo—received the therapeutic and educational support they needed. Through Collaborative Family Engagement meetings, the team created a comprehensive plan addressing the children’s medical, educational, and therapeutic needs, with the goal of preventing placement disruption and ensuring the foster parents felt supported. Today, all four children are enrolled in school with 504 plans in place, and Michael has access to wrap-around medical services—another major triumph. The foster parents now feel confident in their ability to meet the children’s needs, and if the parents remain disengaged, the case may ultimately move toward termination. While that possibility is heartbreaking, the family has a permanent, loving home ready to care for them. Michael, though still facing significant medical challenges, has a strong team advocating for him every step of the way. This story is still unfolding, but it highlights the power of teamwork, advocacy, and dedication in helping children find stability, care, and hope. It’s a reminder of what can be achieved when community, department staff, and CASA advocates go above and beyond to support children and families in need.
Sol Arena Russo
