Advocate Spotlight: Chester & Christina Malins
May Advocate Interview
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
We completed our orientation and training at the end of September 2018 and accepted our first (and current) case as a team in October 2018: a kinship placement (TMC) involving 4 siblings (7-year old male, 6-year old male and female twins, and a 5-year old male).
After retiring from our careers in 2017 (Chris as a grade school principal and Chet from a military support position following a 31-year military career), we relocated to San Antonio after 22 years in Honolulu, HI. We wanted to find a volunteer opportunity to blend our prior experiences and perspectives that would be rewarding and that could make a tangible difference. We had read articles in the past that highlighted the role and the rewards of being a CASA Advocate. Upon our arrival in San Antonio, various radio ads, promotional interviews, and street banners started a conversation between us that eventually culminated in our mutual commitment to sign up as CASA Advocates. The orientation and training regimen reinforced our conviction that our efforts would be both challenging yet rewarding as we helped make a difference in the lives of children at risk.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
In our short time as Advocates, there have been many rewarding aspects, but two stand out above the rest. The first has been the recognition that our continued presence is important to the children. We are able to provide them direct and personal attention. We are there solely for them and can encourage and reassure them. They have responded to our visits at home and school, various outings, and cards with growing enthusiasm. A significant portion of that trust building has resulted from our involvement in the rest of the kinship family and placement situation which provides for the children’s immediate needs. The second has been the discovery that the CASA Advocate plays a unique and critical role in finding out information, sharing it with the other professionals in the process, and helping them connect the dots in order to provide what is best for the children. Having earned their trust, we advance the well-being of the children by enabling these very busy professionals to do what they do best.
3. If you could offer words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
Since this is our first case, most of what we have learned may be specific to the circumstances and dynamics of this case. Nevertheless, for the new Advocate, we would have two recommendations: First, take the time and invest in learning who are the various players in the process, what are their roles, and personalities. They are all professionals who focus on the well being of the children, but they have neither the time nor perspective to gather and attempt to integrate the diverse information that the CASA Advocate can discover. Don’t stress or grow frustrated with trying to solve all issues on your sense of timing. The Advocate is an intermediary but not the fixer in the process. However, you can be a very valuable member of the team and work to hold the system accountable to provide for the best interests of the children. Second, it might take a while to build the relationship with the children. No two children are alike, but all eventually respond to someone who shows attention, remembers things about them, and helps them have moments that are special and better than what might have been in their past. Find reasons to be a part of events in their lives, see them often, offer them structure and affection, and just let them know you care about them and love them.
In September 2024, the department first became involved with a family of five following allegations of substance abuse and medical neglect concerning the mother. Child Protective Investigations (CPI) initially sought to keep the family together by implementing a safety plan with fictive kin—a family the mother and children had met during their stay at Haven for Hope. The hope was that this new placement would provide stability for the children while keeping them safely with someone familiar. For a few weeks, it seemed to be working. But on October 29, 2024, the mother told the fictive kin she was going to retrieve her remaining belongings from Haven for Hope—and never returned. From November 2024 through February 2025, CPS continued its efforts to locate her while supporting the kinship placement and meeting the children’s needs. In January 2025, the kinship placement informed the department that she could no longer care for the youngest child, Ava, due to her severe behavioral needs. Faced with these challenges, the department made the difficult decision to file for removal to provide more comprehensive support for the children and the kinship caregivers. Ava was quickly placed in a foster home in February 2025, while her three brothers remained with fictive kin. Around this time, CASA Staff Advocate JoAnn Herring was assigned to the case. By April 2025, safety concerns prompted the immediate removal of the boys. They were placed in an emergency shelter while the department and JoAnn worked tirelessly to explore placing them with their sister in her foster home. Caring for four children is a big ask, especially for new foster parents, but with support from JoAnn and the department, the foster family rose to the challenge. By May 2025, all four siblings were finally reunited under one roof—a first major victory for this family. Even with the siblings together, challenges remained. The children had significant medical and educational needs. Michael, who had experienced medical neglect while in his mother’s care, was diagnosed with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, requiring frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, and surgery. During these times, JoAnn visited the hospital regularly, offering support and encouragement to both Michael and his foster parents. JoAnn also worked closely with the department and foster family to ensure the other children—Ava, Mateo, and Leo—received the therapeutic and educational support they needed. Through Collaborative Family Engagement meetings, the team created a comprehensive plan addressing the children’s medical, educational, and therapeutic needs, with the goal of preventing placement disruption and ensuring the foster parents felt supported. Today, all four children are enrolled in school with 504 plans in place, and Michael has access to wrap-around medical services—another major triumph. The foster parents now feel confident in their ability to meet the children’s needs, and if the parents remain disengaged, the case may ultimately move toward termination. While that possibility is heartbreaking, the family has a permanent, loving home ready to care for them. Michael, though still facing significant medical challenges, has a strong team advocating for him every step of the way. This story is still unfolding, but it highlights the power of teamwork, advocacy, and dedication in helping children find stability, care, and hope. It’s a reminder of what can be achieved when community, department staff, and CASA advocates go above and beyond to support children and families in need.
Sol Arena Russo
