Advocate Spotlight: Donna Anguiano
October Advocate Spotlight
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I was sworn in as a CASA Volunteer on Feb. 15, 2019. I first started thinking I would like to volunteer about a year earlier when I heard about CASA on the radio. The commercial tugged at my heart and mind. I am a momma to 6 kids and have 9 beautiful and active grandchildren! I had such a hectic schedule and wondered if I could add CASA to the mix. It took several months of thinking about if I could make the time, I felt I would need, to dedicate to CASA kids. I really wanted to. I’m grateful the CASA commercials never stopped! I finally decided to go for it and am so glad that I did.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
I think the most rewarding thing has been seeing how I’ve been able to make a positive difference in the lives of my two CASA boys. I am still on my first case and have worked with the boys and their gramma, who is their Kinship caregiver, since March 2019. One of the boys has recently been adopted by Gramma and the other one should be soon! I have enjoyed working with their gramma too and helping her maneuver the many things she has had to do to reach the point of being able to adopt her grandsons. There have been many bumps in the road for Gramma and the boys during this past 18-19 months and it has filled my heart with joy when we’ve been able to work through the rough patches together. The absolute happiest days for me have been the ones where I get to see my boys truly happy and smiling.
3. If you could offer some words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
I think the very first word of advice would be to remember you have a supervisor!!! The second is to not be afraid to ask questions. I have a wonderful supervisor who has been a tremendous help to me. I have always known I could ask her anything and if she did not know the answer, she would certainly find it! Also, as an Advocate, there are many happy times, along with some frustrating and sad ones. Don’t get discouraged by the yucky stuff. Remember that you CAN make a huge difference in the life of a child.
In March 2025, Child Protective Services removed four young children, just 7, 4, 2, and 3 months old, from their mother’s care. This difficult step followed ongoing concerns about neglect, largely connected to the mother’s struggle with substance use, even during her most recent pregnancy. Although CPS offered support through Family Based Safety Services, the mother was unable to engage in the help provided. The children’s father was also unable to support them due to his own substance abuse and his incarceration in Bexar County Jail. Before removal, the children’s basic medical and educational needs were going unmet. They had been moved repeatedly between their mother and other relatives, leaving them without the stability, routine, and nurturing supervision every child deserves. When CASA Staff Advocate, JoAnn Herring, was assigned the case in April 2025, she immediately reached out to both kinship caregivers to understand the children’s needs and how to best support the families stepping in to care for them. JoAnn quickly learned that the paternal grandmother, who lovingly took in some of the children, was struggling financially and facing barriers due to limited English proficiency. To ensure she wasn’t facing these challenges alone, JoAnn submitted a CFE (Collaborative Family Engagement) referral and personally provided translation support so the grandmother could access services with dignity and understanding. Throughout the case, JoAnn has witnessed moments where cultural sensitivity was lacking, and personal biases influenced important decisions; often at the expense of what was best for the children. Despite these obstacles, she continues to advocate steadfastly and compassionately for the children to remain with the kinship caregivers who have opened their homes and hearts to provide safety, consistency, and love. Although the case is not yet over, Joann’s story demonstrates that CASA’s advocacy reaches beyond the children themselves, strengthening the village of care and support surrounding them, because CASA wants children to be safe, to thrive, and to have their overall well-being protected.
Johnathan Cobb
