Advocate Spotlight: Brandy Alexander
December Advocate Spotlight
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I was sworn in as an advocate and assigned my first case in April 2020.I had heard of the CASA organization many times – college, advertisement at my work place and flyers/commercials. I knew in my heart that I wanted to do it, but I would always think twice if I had the time to dedicate to it. When I started working from home earlier this year and heard of the great need for advocates with the pandemic, I decided it was time to jump in and do my part.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
The most rewarding part of advocacy for me, is seeing positive changes for the kiddos, no matter how big or small. I recently hosted a ZOOM call with their siblings and grandmother living in another city, and seeing the joy on the kids’ faces the entire call was wonderful. Now that CASA is allowing in-person visitation, I have also been loving that time to get to know their personalities and interests even more. While they have been through trying times, the kids are so resilient and that drives me to continue fighting for their best interests.
3. If you could offer some words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
Think every day, what you can be doing to advocate for your kids, and then make a real plan to do those things. Holding a full time job, I found it difficult at first to weave CASA advocacy into my every day life. As I started setting aside lunch breaks and evenings and getting my support systems in place, it became easier to keep on track and make progress. Also, don’t get discouraged! There are going to be tough days where you are feeling stuck in addition to the happy ones. If you need to have a good cry or just take a couple days to process everything, that is okay. We have to take care of ourselves to in turn advocate for our kids. Lastly, don’t forget your CASA supervisor is there for you! He/she is always there to provide direction and support.
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!
Brittany Coppage
