Art & Soul: Artistic Expression for Kids in Foster Care
Last Friday we coordinated with local artist
Gio Dizurita and our Volunteer Advocates to host this year's Art & Soul event for our CASA kids. This initiative focuses on offering an environment of free expression for CASA youth who may not have access to art supplies during their time in Foster Care.
There were no restrictions on what they could create, and Gio demonstrated and encouraged the children to use different techniques and tools such as sticks, brushes, water, and their hands.
Guest Artist: Gio Dizurita
Gio is a local visual artist who helped host our 2018 Art & Soul event at her gallery, where she created one large collaborative painting with the kids. This year her art shows have kept her very busy, but we were very happy when she agreed to make time and volunteer with CASA again.
Gio's very open approach to artistic expression formed a unique environment for these children to feel both confident and courageous about what they could create. There were no wrong answers or methods, and you could see the positive impact this had as the kids quickly broke out of their shells, eager to get their hands dirty to create multiple pieces of art.
Moments from Art & Soul
It was such a joy to see so much artistic talent demonstrated! We are keeping the final masterpieces private for now as the kids have graciously donated some of their work to display at our upcoming Gallery of Hope event this October! You can visit our events
page to save your spot so you don't miss seeing these creations as well as the photo unveiling of children impacted by CASA who have found permanent homes this last year.
In the meantime, please enjoy these captured moments.
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Interested in continuing our mission to provide more unique experiences for our youth in Foster Care? You can Donate to our cause or learn how you can
become a CASA Volunteer today!
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
