Advocate Spotlight: Janice and Jeffrey Ivey
January Advocate Interview
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
We became advocates in May 2019 after completing our training. We had been looking for an opportunity to serve our community, now that our kids are grown. We can’t think of anything more important than working towards being a positive influence in the lives of children who have been in terrible situations. After getting information on CASA and attending the first training class, we knew we had found the right organization.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
It’s seeing the difference that your efforts can make in the lives of the children you’re working with. Working with CPS, their schools, and the foster parents on plans and strategies so they can learn and prosper is extremely rewarding. And identifying opportunities for them-learning about their prior family experiences prior to CPS custody and turning previously negative experiences into positive ones. The progress that the children are making in school, for example, is definitely rewarding, and learning about things they want to do. When a child opens up to you, you know you’ve gained their trust and few things are as satisfying as that.
3. If you could offer words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
Develop a strong, positive relationship with your CPS caseworker. Realize that your CPS caseworker has multiple cases and doesn’t have a CASA on all of them, so any way you can help them out goes a long way. We would not have made the same progress without our caseworker’s assistance and guidance. Verify, verify, verify-verify everything you are told, by both the children and the parents. We’ve discovered huge inconsistencies between things the biological parents have reported and what the children themselves saw or experienced. And realize that little things that you might not think are important can be critically important to the development of the child. Never assume anything-one of our kids told us that she hadn’t gone to see Santa Claus before Christmas because “it costs money to do that”. Always look for successes to celebrate-whether it’s a grade at school, learning to read, riding a bike-remember that in many cases, children put into CPS care have never had that before. But most importantly, be present-parental visits, school events, etc.- and be there for your kids-the more they see you, the more comfortable they will be and the more confident they will become.
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
