Advocate Spotlight: Nina Neish
April Advocate Interview
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I was an advocate in Houston, took my first case there in February 2002. Then we moved to San Antonio in December 2010 , I took the training here in the beginning of the year and have been an advocate here since 2011. I knew I wanted to be an advocate when I worked for a weekly newspaper in Houston ad we use to run ads for Child Advocates there that said, “Help Children Slay their Dragons. “ I went to an orientation and knew I wanted to do it right away. I didn’t have kids yet and knew I wanted to make a difference with children.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
It’s how when I am working a case I always feel like my input and the information I share with the judge is important. I feel like I am making a difference and the situation for the child could have been very different if I had not been on the case. I love that the judges really listen to what we have to contribute. It’s rewarding to help the child get to a better place.
3. If you could offer words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
To be prepared for a roller coaster of ups and downs, lots of different twists, turns and emotions. I would tell them to just hold the vision that they are making a difference for the child/children no matter what. Even if they are frustrated or are unsure of what they are doing. They are helping just by being a part of the childs life and the case itself. I would also tell them to feel free to reach out to other advocates for guidance, or to vent or just to think up strategies. There are always other advocates willing to help.
At CASA, our goal is to serve 100% of the children and families in need experiencing foster care and strong community partnerships help make that possible.
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.
