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.
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
