May Advocate Spotlight

Anna Perhach

Advocate: Joseph Zlotkowski

1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one? 


I've been an advocate since October. I've wanted to be one since I was 18. And you can't be an advocate until you're 21, so I had to wait a couple of years. Helping kids is my favorite way to volunteer.


2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate? 


I enjoy going out and doing fun things with the kids. Being a ward of the state can be traumatic, but I hope that they come out of this with some good memories of this part of their life. 90% of the activities that I do with them, they say it's their first time ever. We've gone to museums including the Witte and Doseum, the aquarium, the zoo, frozen yogurt, Enchanted Rock, the Alamo and the Riverwalk, the movies, walking at parks, to CASA events, etc.


For me personally, I'm going to be a doctor, and I think this has made me a lot more comfortable calling CPS for families in the future. CPS tries really hard to work with families. Everything that CPS requires is free for families, whether it's counseling, or classes, or substance use treatment, or helping families get childcare. They do their best for the safety of kids and for helping parents recover from whatever their challenge is. 

 

There is a whole squad of adults supporting these kids. Their ARD educational meetings were packed with me, CPS, their kinship placement, and a parent. The kids aren't going to fall through the cracks. They're supported not ignored. That's in part what CASA is for. 



3. If you could offer some words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?


  1. Your supervisor can be a great resource for getting help and supplies. My supervisor helped me get beds and car seats for the kids. 
  2. Build a relationship with the parents to be a better bridge between them and resources and to have a better understanding of the progress that they believe they've made. It's a work in progress. 
  3. Show up to everything you can. 
  4. The aquarium (for kids in foster care) and the Alamo are free. The museums are free some days a month. Frozen yogurt sold by weight and dispensed by small kids is expensive. Keep water and snacks on hand always.

A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination

By bfines • April 25, 2025
A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination On April 24, 2025, the National CASA/GAL Association announced that its federal funding through the U.S. Department of Justice has been terminated. As a result, National CASA is suspending subaward disbursements, training programs, and technical assistance. The organization is actively appealing the decision and assessing what services it can continue to provide during this transition. Info from National CASA can be found here. We understand that this announcement may raise concerns in the community, and we want to provide reassurance and clarity regarding how this news affects Child Advocates San Antonio. First and foremost: There is no impact to our organization or our services. We are fully operational and remain committed to serving the children and families in our community with the same excellence, integrity, compassion, and commitment we have always shown. Here are key facts we want our supporters and the public to know: Our funding remains secure. Child Advocates San Antonio has a diverse and stable funding base that includes a healthy mix of public and private funding. No one funding stream exceeds 50% of our budget. You can access our recent financials HERE. Our stability comes from strong state support and our dedicated Bexar County community, which keeps Child Advocates San Antonio resilient and focused on serving children. We do not receive subawards from National CASA. The suspension of subaward disbursements has no bearing on our funding or ability to operate. Our training programs continue without interruption. Our comprehensive and high-quality Advocate training programs are fully intact. We do not require technical assistance from National CASA. Our team is experienced, well-resourced, and prepared to continue all programming. No cuts, no hiring freezes, no changes to our operations. We remain fully staffed and actively engaged in our mission to advocate for children in foster care. Our commitment to advocating for children in foster care is unwavering, and our services continue as usual. We want to be clear: Child Advocates San Antonio is strong, stable, and here to stay. CASA programs in Texas are strong, independent, and fully committed to children in foster care. While we’re aware of the situation with National CASA/GAL, it doesn’t impact the critical advocacy happening here. Our commitment is clear: we will stand with the children we serve—until they are safe, their voices are heard, and their futures are secure. Our focus, as always, is on advocating for the best interests of children and ensuring they have a voice in court. Public support at all levels, including individuals, ensures we remain strong, regardless of national developments. No matter what, our mission stays the same – every child deserves to be safe, cared for, and have their voice heard. CASA’s mission is as important as ever— children in foster care need advocates who will stand by them. Start your Advocate Journey today!

April Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • April 11, 2025
Brittany Coppage
Show More