Advocate Spotlight: James Barrett
October Advocate Interview
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I have been an advocate for going on three years now. I decided to join C.A.S.A. in August of 2016. I have been involved with you before volunteering with the Big Brother program while stationed with the Army in El Paso, Texas. However, because I myself was in the foster care system while growing up I knew that I wanted to serve foster kids and volunteer in other ways. I cannot recall the first time I hear of C.A.S.A. but it was probably in my first semester of training to become a social worker right before I retired from the Army. I mentioned it to my wife and she told me that her mom had actually done it before in El Paso, Texas. I figured no better time than now and how much better could I have become if I had a C.A.S.A. when I was going through the system.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
The most rewarding aspect of being an advocate would be seeing the progress a young child makes. The progress could be simple to us but to them it is huge. I have had the opportunity to see children leave a treatment facility for the first time in two years to simply go bowling, young children go to great adoptive homes, and sibling groups get reunited. Sometimes a child may regress and then progress. To me this is the most rewarding part of being a C.A.S.A. is see how wonderfully children can bounce back from the negatives in our world with a caring adult that promises to stick by them.
3. If you could offer words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
The best advice I can give is to always be there for the children. Sometimes what is best for the children is not what they want to hear. If they know you are there for them, they will take to you. Sometimes depending on age and circumstances this may take some time. Be willing to put in the time and effort it takes to “win over” the child. Remember who this child is, what they like, who they like, and what they want to be when they grow up. Little things like a child’s favorite color and favorite super hero will go a long way to helping securing a child’s trust.
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
