CASA at the Capitol | March 2021
CASA- San Antonio Legislative Advocacy Team
Each year during the legislative session CASA advocates from all over the state come together to speak as one for Texas children and families. It is an opportunity for CASA programs and advocates, to share personal stories of advocacy while discussing legislation priorities that can impact the lives of children and families in our communities.
Child Advocates San Antonio has participated in this event in the past, but never before with our own official Legislative Advocacy Team or LAT, headed up by amazing advocate Joan Ulsher working directly with our local lawmakers. Out of 72 CASA programs covering 219 Texas counties, Child Advocates San Antonio became the 39th inaugural LAT to organize at the beginning of this year. The LAT is a combination of staff and volunteer advocates that advocate for children and families on a larger platform year-round. As constituents, we give “perspective” to issues that we face as advocates on a daily basis. Our lawmakers need to hear these stories.
This year, Representative Ina Minjarez, representing District 124 in San Antonio, introduced House Resolution 50 declaring February 17, 2021 as CASA Day at the Capitol. It was a 2-day virtual event at the Capital that unfortunately, due to the 2021 Texas winter storm, most CASA programs all around Texas were forced to cancel their meetings with their local government. Although we could not participate as planned, CASA Day at the Capitol remains important to our CASA network and thus we have rescheduled our local meetings.
We encourage all our CASA advocates in San Antonio to consider how you can be part of this team effort. This will ensure that child welfare remains a priority for our lawmakers and that all voices are heard. You have stories to share during your time as a warrior for these kids. These stories help show the importance of child welfare and CASA’s role in it. Here are a few ways you can get involved.
Check out the Texas CASA Program Portal on legislative advocacy: https://texascasa.org/program-portal/public-policy-legislative-advocacy/
- Watch the 5-part Webinar series on LAT
- Review the resources provided, especially the Legislative Advocacy Guide
- View the Rock the Capitol video event
- Become familiar with the Texas CASA priorities and important Bill’s we are tracking at: https://texascasa.org/what-we-do/leadership-in-public-policy/bill-tracker/
- Speak with your CASA Supervisor and let him/her know of your interest in joining our efforts for the next legislative session.
As we continue to move towards serving 100% of the children in Bexar County, we need more people willing to step up and speak out at the legislative level. Caring about the child welfare system is easy, making a difference takes everyone’s voice!
For more information on how to get involved and join the Legislative Advocacy Team contact Emilio Arriola at earriola@casa-satx.org or call our office at 210-225-7070.
Emily Benedict: Championing College Dreams for Youth in Care Emily Benedict has always believed deeply in the power of higher education and has a passion for making college access a reality—especially for youth in foster care. When she expressed interest in taking on a second CASA case, she was clear about her goal: she wanted to work with a youth on the college docket, helping them navigate the complex path toward applying to and enrolling in college. In August of last year, Emily was matched with a 16-year-old youth living at Connections in New Braunfels. The teen had spent several years in care, with her parents’ rights terminated and a previous kinship placement having broken down. Though she had two siblings, she was no longer in contact with them. From their first meeting, a strong connection grew between Emily and her youth—especially during a Clifton Strengths event hosted at CASA. As the school year kicked off, Emily quickly stepped in to advocate for her youth’s education. She connected with school counselors, began tracking her youth’s grades and attendance, and stepped up when she learned the teen was failing two classes due to a lack of access to technology. Emily secured a Chromebook and printer through CASA, ensuring her youth had the tools to succeed. With weekly check-ins, academic encouragement, and consistent support, her youth turned things around—eventually getting back on track to graduate a year early . Knowing college was the goal, Emily helped prepare her youth for the journey ahead. She shared opportunities for SAT prep, researched application deadlines, supported her through the FAFSA process, and made sure every college application was submitted on time. She also enrolled her in the PAL program, arranged campus tours, and even ensured she had the required immunizations for enrollment. Emily didn’t stop there—she helped her youth open a bank account and advocated tirelessly with the caseworker to get her into a driver’s ed program. Throughout the year, Emily also supported her youth emotionally. She helped her process complex feelings about being separated from her siblings and successfully facilitated a visit—opening the door to renewed phone and virtual contact. Just weeks before graduation, the youth’s placement at her residential facility fell through, and she began couch-surfing with friends. Emily didn’t miss a beat. She stayed in close contact with the youth’s support team—including her caseworker, attorney, and college docket facilitators—keeping everyone updated and focused on solutions. She explored housing options, called multiple facilities, and even reached out to colleges to see if the teen could move into a dorm early. Though dorms were restricted to 18+, Emily remained determined. She arranged a meeting between the teen and Judge Montemayor, who encouraged her to finish her final week of school and graduate—assuring her of continued support while placement was pending. Soon after, Emily discovered Lifeworks in Austin, a program offering housing, counseling, education, and workforce support. She helped secure a spot, drove her youth around town to collect belongings, and personally transported her on move-in day—returning the next day to check in. Emily proudly attended the teen’s graduation at the end of May. She is now helping her enroll in an online course for the fall semester, giving her a head start on college before she turns 18 in November and transitions into a Supervised Independent Living (SIL) dorm. Through every setback and success, Emily has remained a steady, empowering force—amplifying her youth’s voice, championing her goals, and proving the life-changing impact of one dedicated CASA volunteer.
Sherri Lee Boos
